Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SHIP, by JOHN WILSON (1785-1854) Poet's Biography First Line: And lo! Upon the murmuring waves Last Line: Across the unfathom'd trackless ocean. Alternate Author Name(s): North, Christopher Subject(s): Sea; Ships & Shipping; Ocean | ||||||||
AND lo! upon the murmuring waves A glorious shape appearing! A broad-wing'd vessel, through the shower Of glimmering lustre steering! As if the beauteous ship enjoy'd The beauty of the sea, She lifteth up her stately head And saileth joyfully. A lovely path before her lies, A lovely path behind; She sails amidst the loveliness Like a thing with heart and mind. Fit pilgrim through a scene so fair, Slowly she beareth on; A glorious phantom of the deep, Risen up to meet the moon. The moon bids her tenderest radiance fall On her wavy streamer and snow-white wings And the quiet voice of the rocking sea To cheer the gliding vision sings. Oh! ne'er did sky and water blend In such a holy sleep, Or bathe in brighter quietude A roamer of the deep. So far the peaceful soul of heaven Hath settled on the sea, It seems as if this weight of calm Were from eternity. O world of waters! the steadfast earth Ne'er lay entranced like thee! Is she a vision wild and bright, That sails amid the still moonlight At the dreaming soul's command? A vessel borne by magic gales, All rigg'd with gossamery sails, And bound for fairy-land? Ah, no! -- an earthly freight she bears, Of joys and sorrows, hopes and fears; And lonely as she seems to be, Thus left by herself on the moonlight sea In loneliness that rolls, She hath a constant company, In sleep, or waking revelry, Five hundred human souls! Since first she sail'd from fair England, Three moons her path have cheer'd: And another lights her lovelier lamp Since the Cape hath disappear'd. For an Indian isle she shapes her way With constant mind both night and day: She seems to hold her home in view And sails, as if the path she knew; So calm and stately is her motion Across the unfathom'd trackless ocean. | 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 THE EVENING CLOUD by JOHN WILSON (1785-1854) |
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