by Whitman · Cluster: Journey · Ship
Abstract
A warning bell saves a ship from wreck, opening into the ship of body and soul voyaging on; free-verse lyric on the sea, ships, the journey and the soul.
Connections
Motifs: Sea, Journey, Bells Themes & Concepts: Self-Knowledge Forms & Genres: Free Verse Settings: Ship
Testo integrale / Full text
Cluster: SEA-DRIFT
Aboard at a ship’s helm,
A young steersman steering with care.
Through fog on a sea-coast dolefully ringing,
An ocean-bell—O a warning bell, rock’d by the waves.
O you give good notice indeed, you bell by the sea-reefs ringing,
Ringing, ringing, to warn the ship from its wreck-place.
For as on the alert O steersman, you mind the loud admonition,
The bows turn, the freighted ship tacking speeds away under her gray sails,
The beautiful and noble ship with all her precious wealth speeds
away gayly and safe.
But O the ship, the immortal ship! O ship aboard the ship!
Ship of the body, ship of the soul, voyaging, voyaging, voyaging.