Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ARCHIPELAGO, by HERMAN MELVILLE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ARCHIPELAGO, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sail before the morning breeze
Last Line: Marquesas!
Subject(s): Aegean Sea; Greece; Greeks


Sail before the morning breeze
The Sporads through and Cyclades
They look like isles of absentees --
Gone whither?

You bless Apollo's cheering ray,
But Delos, his own isle, today
Not e'en a Selkirk there to pray
God friend me!

Scarce lone these groups, scarce lone and bare
When Theseus roved a Raleigh there,
Each isle a small Virginia fair --
Unravished.

Nor less through havoc fell they rue,
They still retain in outline true
Their grace of form when earth was new
And primal.

But beauty clear, the frame's as yet,
Never shall make one quite forget
Thy picture, Pan, therein once set --
Life's revel!

'Tis Polynesia reft of palms,
Seaward no valley breathes her balms --
Not such as musk thy rings of calms,
Marquesas!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net