Columbus

   

    My poem this Monday, is by American poet, Joaquin Miller. I love the sea, but as we know it is treacherous and unforgiving. The courage of explorers, such as Columbus has to be acknowledged. This poem tells of the sailors fear and of the drive and determination needed to succeed in any quest.

Columbus 

Behind him lay the gray Azores

Behind the Gates of Hercules

Before him not the ghost of shores

Before him only shoreless seas

The good mate said, "Now we must pray,

For lo the very stars are gone.

Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?"

"Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!' " 

 

My men grow mutinous day by day

My men grow ghastly wan and weak

The stout mate thought of home, a spray

Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek

"What shall I say, brave Admiral, say,

If we sight naught but seas at dawn?"

"Why, you shall say at break of day,

'Sail on! sail on! and on!' " 

 

They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow

Until at last the blanched mate said,

"Why, now not even God would know

Should I and all my men fall dead

These very winds forget their way

For God from these dead seas is gone

Now speak, brave Admiral, speak and say"

He said, "Sail on! sail on! and on!"

They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate

"This mad sea shows his teeth tonight.

He curls his lip, he lies in wait,

With lifted teeth, as if to bite!

Brave Admiral, say but one good word:

What shall we do when hope is gone?"

The words leapt like a leaping sword,

"Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!"

 

Then pale and worn, he kept his deck

And peered through darkness. Ah, that night

Of all dark nights! And then a speck

A light! A light! At last a light!

It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!

It grew to be Time's burst of dawn

He gained a world, he gave that world

Its grandest lesson, "On! sail on!"

                              Joaquin Miller (1837-1913)