Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PEACE AND WAR, by WILLIAM WATSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PEACE AND WAR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The sleek sea, gorged and sated, basking lies
Last Line: Swear an eternity of halcyon sleep.
Alternate Author Name(s): Watson, John William
Subject(s): Peace; War


THE sleek sea, gorged and sated, basking lies;
The cruel creature fawns and blinks and purrs;
And almost we forget what fangs are hers,
And trust for once her emerald-golden eyes;
Though haply on the morrow she shall rise
And summon her infernal ministers,
And charge her everlasting barriers,
With wild white fingers snatching at the skies.

So, betwixt Peace and War, man's life is cast;
Yet hath he dreamed of purest Peace at last
Shepherding all the nations ev'n as sheep.
The inconstant, moody ocean shall as soon,
At the cold dictates of the bloodless moon,
Swear an eternity of halcyon sleep.





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