Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EIGHT OARS AND A COXSWAIN, by ARTHUR GUITERMAN Poet's Biography First Line: Eight oars compel Last Line: "steady! Pull it thr-o-o-ough!" Subject(s): Boats; New York City - Dutch Period; Rowing; Sea Gulls; Sports | ||||||||
Eight oars compel Our darting shell, Eight oar-blades flash the sun; The hard arms thrill, The deep lungs fill, Eight backs are bent as one. All silver lined We leave behind Each wave of somber hue. "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Steady, Number Two!" The sea-gulls go, A drift of snow, On Hudson's lights and shades; The eagle swings On splendid wings Above the Palisades. Let Caution steer The shore anear, But Valor takes the tide. "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Ease your forward slide!" A fair league still To old Cock Hill, Where Spuyten Duyvil roars. No time for play; Give 'way; give 'way! And bend the driven oars! When breezes blow Then feather low With level blades and true. "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Steady! Pull it thr-o-o-ough!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPORT STORY OF A WINNER by GLYN MAXWELL WOMAN SKATING by MARGARET ATWOOD FISHING IN WINTER by RALPH BURNS CAPPER KAPLINSKI AT THE NORTH SIDE CUE CLUB by HAYDEN CARRUTH JACKIE ROBINSON by LUCILLE CLIFTON FOR THE DEATH OF VINCE LOMBARDI by JAMES DICKEY THE DEATH OF THE RACE CAR DRIVER by NORMAN DUBIE |
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