This wood that's warped and silver gray, As salvage came to me today. One spar still held a hempen rope Tied in a noose (all end to hope.) Within my shack close to the shore The flames leap high... I bar the door To keep with me the wraiths who came Afloat today to play a game. They dance and pirouette in glee As savage yarns they spin for me. The figures whirl... now blue... now gold... With funny tricks my gaze they hold. As on the planks of fire they slip, They tell me that their pirate ship Was sheathed in copper... that is why These greens with other colors vie. A phosphorescent eerie glow. I'm so intent I scarcely know The play is done... until I hear The low-voiced bowing buccaneer With hat in hand. Goodnight... he spoke... His feathered plume goes up in smoke. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARCHIMEDES LAST FORAY by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET CAMPUS SONNET: RETURN - 1917 by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET CONTRA MORTEM: THE CHILD by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE JOBHOLDER by DAVID IGNATOW SMOTHERED FIRES by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SORROW SINGERS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 5. THE DANCING GIRL by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MA LADY'S LIPS AM LIKE DE HONEY (NEGRO LOVE SONG) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON |