Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DEPORTED, by KATHRYN WHITE RYAN Poet's Biography First Line: The transports move stealthily to sea Last Line: Oh, do not notice! Subject(s): Immigrants; Sea Voyages; Emigrant; Emigration; Immigration | ||||||||
The transports move stealthily to sea -- The sea so prone to take strange freightage eagerly -- But this sad freightage even the sea disowns And lifts its storms and frowns in darker mood And never was a cargo more adrift... There are no ports, no country's flag, no waiting hands In any land on earth for it. Nor any home to take it in. And all the prisons are too proud. O Mayflower! Ships of Columbus! And frigates and vessels of wood and of steel, With your cargoes of gifts and your graces! O swift laughing sails like fluttering garments of girls Running down soft green slopes To a dance with their lovers at Fair time! O all the brave prows that advance to these shores Like believers to the rail at communion! Be blind! Turn away from-those ships, from those spectres, Do not think these the cargoes we send out from our shores, These of the darkness, in the night, in secrecy, Under sealed orders!' O Liberty! Mother! with your head proudly erect And your regal brow confident And your uplifted arm Hailing far children of earth to your sheltering; O Liberty! Mother who nurses back to full strength The offspring of breasts that are empty, Who gives and who trusts and who welcomes in limitless trusting! Do not look down at these ships as they pass -- Purring like cats that are clawing their kill -- Oh, do not notice! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EVERYDAY WE GET MORE ILLEGAL by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA EUROPE AND AMERICA by DAVID IGNATOW EUROPE AND AMERICA by DAVID IGNATOW THE VIEW AT GUNDERSON'S by JOSEPH WARREN BEACH MEETING YOU AT THE PIERS by KENNETH KOCH IN THE GLORIOUS YEMEN RESTAURANT by KHALED MATTAWA END OF THE RANGE by ANSELM HOLLO BLASTING by KATHRYN WHITE RYAN |
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