Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE WISE BROTHERS by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: SO LONG ADRIFT, SO FAST AGROUND
Last Line: WE, AND ALL OTHERS?

FIRST VOICE

SO long adrift, so fast aground,
What foam and ruin have we found--
We, the Wise Brothers?
Could heaven and earth be framed amiss,
That we should land in fine like this--
We, and no others?

SECOND VOICE

Convoyed by what accursed thing
Made we this evil reckoning--
We, the Wise Brothers?
And if the failure be complete,
Why look we forward from defeat--
We, and what others?

THIRD VOICE

Blown far from harbors once in sight,
May we not, going far, go right,--
We, the Wise Brothers?
Companioned by the whirling spheres,
Have we no more than what appears--
We, and all others?



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