Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE AMERICAN OCEAN by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER

Poet Analysis

First Line: TEN THOUSAND MILES OF MOBILE SEA
Last Line: "ONE HUGE, BLACK SWAN OF HELICON."

"Ten thousand miles of mobile sea --
This sea of all seas blent as one
Wide, unbound book of mystery,
Of awe, of sibyl prophecy,
Ere yet a ghost or misty ken
Of God's far, first beginning when
Vast darkness lay upon the deep."

"He looked to heaven, God; but she
Saw only his face and the sea."

"Aye, day is done, the dying sun
Sinks wounded unto death tonight;
A great, hurt swan, he sinks to rest,
His wings all crimson blood his breast!
With wide, low wings, reached left and right,
He sings, and night and swan are one --
One huge, black swan of Helicon."



Home: PoetryExplorer.net