Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO OCEAN HAZARD: GIPSY by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: BURNING FIRE, OR BLOWING WIND
Burning fire, or blowing wind;

Starry night, or glowing sun:

All these thou dost bring to mind,
Burning fire, or blowing wind;
All these match thee, one by one:
Starry night, or glowing sun:
Ocean is thy name, most fair!
All these thou dost bring to mind,
Strangest name, for thee to bear.
All these match thee, one by one:
Daughter of the sun, and child
Ocean is thy name, most fair!
Of the wind upon the waste;
Strangest name, for thee to bear.
Daughter of the field and wild:

Thee, what oceans have embraced?

What great waves have cradled thee,
Daughter of the sun, and child
That thy name is of the sea?
Of the wind upon the waste;
In thy beauty, the red earth,
Daughter of the field and wild:
Full of gold and jewel stone,
Thee, what oceans have embraced?
Flames and burns: thy happy birth
What great waves have cradled thee,
Made and marked thee for her own.
That thy name is of the sea?
Winds held triumph in the trees:

Thou wast lying on earth's knees.

For thine ancient people keep
In thy beauty, the red earth,
Still their march from land to land:
Full of gold and jewel stone,
Ever upon earth they sleep,
Flames and burns: thy happy birth
Woods and fields on either hand.
Made and marked thee for her own.
Not upon the barren sea
Winds held triumph in the trees:
Have thy people dandled thee.
Thou wast lying on earth's knees.
Closer they, than other men,

To the heart of earth have come:

First the wilderness, and then
For thine ancient people keep
Field and forest, gave them home:
Still their march from land to land:
All their days, their hearts, they must
Ever upon earth they sleep,
Give to earth: and then their dust.
Woods and fields on either hand.
Was it, that they heard the sea
Not upon the barren sea
In the surging pinewood's voice:
Have thy people dandled thee.
As they pondered names, for thee

Fair enough; so made their choice,

Hailed thee Ocean, hailed thee queen
Closer they, than other men,
Over glades of tossing green.-
To the heart of earth have come:
-1888
First the wilderness, and then
Field and forest, gave them home:
All their days, their hearts, they must
Give to earth: and then their dust.


Was it, that they heard the sea
In the surging pinewood's voice:
As they pondered names, for thee
Fair enough; so made their choice,
Hailed thee Ocean, hailed thee queen
Over glades of tossing green?






Home: PoetryExplorer.net