by Whitman · Cluster: Ship · Endurance
Abstract
Old age and death imagined as rival vessels closing in, met with defiant joy of strife as the poet’s ship crowds on full sail toward the open sea.
Connections
Topoi: Last Stand Motifs: Sea, Ship Themes & Concepts: Mortality, Heroism Forms & Genres: Free Verse Settings: Ship
Testo integrale / Full text
Cluster: GOOD-BYE MY FANCY
From east and west across the horizon’s edge,
Two mighty masterful vessels sailers steal upon us:
But we’ll make race a-time upon the seas—a battle-contest yet! bear
lively there!
(Our joys of strife and derring-do to the last!)
Put on the old ship all her power to-day!
Crowd top-sail, top-gallant and royal studding-sails,
Out challenge and defiance—flags and flaunting pennants added,
As we take to the open—take to the deepest, freest waters.