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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


DEATH by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: HAUL UP THE ANCHOR, CAPTAIN OLD, O DEATH, FOR IT IS TIME
Last Line: AND HAIL THE UNKNOWN DARK TO FIND A SHORE BEYOND THE DEEP!
Subject(s): DEATH; SAILING & SAILORS; DEAD, THE; SEAMEN; SAILS;

HAUL up the anchor, captain old, O Death, for it is time;
We weary of the listless shore. Cast off, and so to sea!
Though cloud above and wave below be black as inky slime,
Our hearts are beaming cores of light to dare the dark with thee!

Pour out thy poison draught, and of thy comfort let us drink;
So fierce the fuel burns our brain that headlong we would sweep,
Or Hell or Heaven for our port, thro' sunless gulfs to sink,
And hail the unknown dark to find a shore beyond the deep!



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