Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AT OUR GOLDEN GATE, by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: At our gate he groaneth, groaneth Last Line: Else give back these seas again! Alternate Author Name(s): Miller, Joaquin Subject(s): Sea; Ocean | ||||||||
At our gate he groaneth, groaneth, Chafes as chained, and chafes all day; As leashed greyhound moaneth, moaneth, When a master keeps away. Men have seen him steal in lowly, Lick the island's feet and face, Lift a cold wet nose up slowly, Then turn empty to his place: Empty, idle, hungered, waiting For some hero, dauntless-souled, Glory-loving, pleasure-hating, Minted in God's ancient mold. What ship yonder stealing, stealing, Pirate-like, as if ashamed? Black men, brown men, red, revealing -- Not one white man to be named! What flag yonder, proud, defiant, Topmast, saucy, and sea blown? Tall ships, lordly and reliant -- All flags yonder save our own! Surged atop yon half-world water Once a tuneful tall ship ran; Ran the storm king, too, and caught her, Caught and laughed as laughs a man: Laughed, and held her, and so holden, Holden high, foam-crest and free As famed harper, hoar and olden, Held his great harp on his knee. Then his fingers wildly flinging Through chords, ropes -- such symphony As if some wild Wagner singing -- Some wild Wagner of the sea! Sang he of such poor cowed weaklings, Cowed, weak landsmen such as we. While ten thousand storied sea kings Foam-white, storm-blown, sat the sea. Oh, for England's old sea thunder! Oh, for England's bold sea men, When we banged her over, under And she banged us back again! Better old time strife and stresses, Cloud top't towers, walls, distrust; Better wars than lazinesses, Better loot than wine and lust! Give us seas? Why, we have oceans! Give us manhood, sea men, men! Give us deeds, loves, hates, emotions! Else give back these seas again! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HALL OF OCEAN LIFE by JOHN HOLLANDER JULY FOURTH BY THE OCEAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS BOATS IN A FOG by ROBINSON JEFFERS CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE FIGUREHEAD by LEONIE ADAMS A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER |
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