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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CAPTAIN JONES' INVITATION, by PHILIP FRENEAU Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Thou, who on some dark mountain's brow Last Line: Learn what it is to go to sea. Subject(s): American Revolution; Jones, John Paul (1747-1792); Sea; Ocean | |||
THOU, who on some dark mountain' s brow Hast toiled thy life away till now, And often from that rugged steep Beheld the vast extended deep, Come from thy forest, and with me Learn what it is to go to sea. There endless plains the eye surveys As far from land the vessel strays; No longer hill nor dale is seen, The realms of death intrude between, But fear no ill; resolve, with me To share the dangers of the sea. But look not there for verdant fields -- Far different prospects Neptune yields; Green seas shall only greet the eye, Those seas encircled by the sky, Immense and deep -- come then with me And view the wonders of the sea. Yet sometimes groves and meadows gay Delight the seamen on their way; From the deep seas that round us swell With rocks the surges to repel Some verdant isle, by waves embraced, Swells, to adorn the wat'ry waste. Though now this vast expanse appear With glassy surface calm and clear; Be not deceived -- 'tis but a show, For many a corpse is laid below -- Even Britain's lads -- it cannot be -- They were the masters of the sea! Now combating upon the brine, Where ships in flaming squadrons join, At every blast the brave expire 'Midst clouds of smoke, and streams of fire; But scorn all fear; advance with me -- 'Tis but the custom of the sea. Now we the peaceful wave divide, On broken surges now we ride, Now every eye dissolves with woe As on some lee-ward coast we go -- Half lost, half buried in the main Hope scarcely beams on life again. Above us storms distract the sky, Beneath us depths unfathomed lie, Too near we see, a ghastly fight, The realms of everlasting night, A wat'ry tomb of ocean green And only one frail plank between! But winds must cease, and storms decay, Not always lasts the gloomy day, Again the skies are warm and clear, Again soft zephyrs fan the air, Again we find the long-lost shore, The winds oppose our wish no more. If thou hast courage to despise The various changes of the skies, To disregard the ocean's rage, Unmoved when hostile ships engage, Come from thy forest, and with me Learn what it is to go to sea. | 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 AN ANCIENT PROPHECY by PHILIP FRENEAU |
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