Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN HARBOR, by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN HARBOR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Surely there, among the great docks, is peace, my mind
Last Line: Yes, it is certainly of the high sea they are talking.
Subject(s): Ships & Shipping; Sea


Surely there, among the great docks, is peace, my mind;
there with the ships moored in the river.
Go out, timid child,
and snuggle in among the great ships talking so quietly.
Maybe you will even fall asleep near them and be
lifted into one of their laps, and in the morning --
There is always the morning in which to remember it all!
Of what are they gossiping? God knows.
And God knows it matters little for we cannot understand them.
Yet it is certainly of the sea, of that there can be no question.
It is a quiet sound. Rest! That's all I care for now.
The smell of them will put us to sleep presently.
Smell! It is the sea water mingling here into the river --
at least so it seems -- perhaps it is something else -- but what matter?
The sea water! It is quiet and smooth here!
How slowly they move, little by little trying
the hawsers that drop and groan with their agony.
Yes, it is certainly of the high sea they are talking.





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