Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PILGRIM SHIP, by KATHARINE LEE BATES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PILGRIM SHIP, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lanterns at stern and prow flash down their wavering
Last Line: Calling jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Subject(s): Pilgrimages & Pilgrims


Lanterns at stern and prow flash down their wavering
Ruby pillars into this pallid sea
Murmurous with ancient litanies. A favoring
Wind lends her aid to steam, yet slowly we
Fare on to Palestine, the whither, whither
Of many a dream and many a devotee.

From star to golden star the tall mast, quivering,
Traces our way, the stars that looked on Paul
Cheering the sailors while the storm was shivering
His prison-ship; Jerome the Eagle, all
His Roman dames like doves about him, pilgrims
To Bethlehem following that ascetic call;

On Origen, spirit of while austerity;
On that shadowy figure whose beguiling quill
Wrote down his Travels with such gay temerity
As fooled ten centuries, Sir John Mandeville,
Ceasing his tale at last lest nought for others
Be left to tell: "Wherfore I hold me stille."

Over these chanting seas against the garrisons
Of the unbelievers fierce crusaders came,
Host after mail-clad host, to slay the Saracens,
Who flared to meet them, flame encountering flame;
But still the minarets cry Allah! Allah!
And the Red Cross now is Mercy's dearest name.

Richard the Lion-Heart, who found in Saladin
A foe as generous, flushed his singing sword
With Moslem blood; and many a gallant paladin,
Knight and hidalgo fought against the horde
Of infidels to rescue -- ah! the empty,
Disputed sepulchre of Christ their Lord.

O the jubilant trumpets! Silken pennants fluttering!
Emblazoned pomp of king and emperor!
O splendid vestments of proud bishops uttering
Sonorous mass at altars fashioned for
The glory of the Galilean, -- glory
Of saving love blasphemed by savage war!

Down on our forward deck the stars are lustering
A motley throng, cloudy-robed Bedouins sashed
With rainbow; antelope-eyed children clustering
About veiled mothers; mightily moustached
And bearded monks from the awful crags of Sinai;
And dancing gypsies, castanets loud clashed.

Softly the turbans blend their mauves and Tyrian
Purples with sparkles of the scarlet fez;
The Arab brown burnoose merges with Syrian
Abba and yellow gabardine that says
A Jew, that restless wanderer of the ages,
Known from the Susquehanna to Suez.

Now on our pilgrims, huddled close in gratitude
For strip of deck, as on those whose requiem
Long since was sung, lies silvery beatitude
Of moonlight, grace of God enfolding them,
While in their dreams the waves are yearning voices
Calling Jerusalem! Jerusalem!





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