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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONG OF THE DANISH SEA-KING, by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: Our bark is on the waters deep, our bright blade's in our hand
Last Line: As proudly, through the foaming surge, the sea-king bears away!
Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, Isaac
Subject(s): Sea; Ocean
First Line: Our bark is on the waters deep, our bright blade's in our hand
Last Line: As proudly, through the foaming surge, the sea-king bears away!
Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, Isaac
Subject(s): Sea; Ocean
OUR bark is on the waters deep, our bright blade's in our hand,
Our birthright is the ocean vast -- we scorn the girdled land;
And the hollow wind is our music brave, and none can bolder be
Than the hoarse-tongued tempest raving o'er a proud and swelling sea!
Our bark is dancing on the waves, its tall masts quivering bend
Before the gale, which hails us now with the hollo of a friend;
And its prow is sheering merrily the upcurled billow's foam,
While our hearts, with throbbing gladness, cheer old Ocean
as our home!
Our eagle-wings of might we stretch before the gallant wind,
And we leave the tame and sluggish earth a dim mean speck behind;
We shoot into the untracked deep, as earth-freed spirits soar,
Like stars of fire through boundless space -- through
realms without a shore!
Lords of this wide-spread wilderness of waters, we bound free,
The haughty elements alone dispute our sovereignty;
No landmark doth our freedom let, for no law of man can mete
The sky which arches o'er our head -- the waves which kiss our feet!
The warrior of the land may back the wild horse, in his pride;
But a fiercer steed we dauntless breast -- the untamed ocean tide;
And a nobler tilt our bark careers, as it quells the saucy wave,
While the Herald storm peals o'er the deep the glories of the brave.
Hurrah! hurrah! the wind is up -- it bloweth fresh and free,
And every cord, instinct with life, pipes loud its fearless glee;
Big swell the bosomed sails with joy, and they madly kiss the spray,
As proudly, through the foaming surge, the Sea-King bears away!
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
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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
JEANIE MORRISON by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL