NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/rec/arts/poems/13245

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-29 | 1.7 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!pipex!bnr.co.uk!uknet!comlab.ox.ac.uk!oxuniv!vollrath
From: [e-mail] (Alun ap Rhisiart)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.poems
Subject: Help, lost poem
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 28 Dec 92 19:17:36 GMT
Organization: Oxford University VAX 6620
Lines: 37

Hi again,

(Hope this looks okay, this editor is going crazy)
About 15 years ago I read a sonnet by (I thought) John Maisfield (sp?).
Later, I looked for in in his complete works, etc, but after nearly
two decades I can't find it. Maybe it was a different poet? If anyone
recognises it, I would be _extremely_ grateful if you would let me know.
I can't remember how it starts, but there is a two-line quote from something,
then the first few lines, then something like this:

When the tall ships where as new as a child's toy
To him who sailed at Odysseus' side, perhaps,
From Ithaca to fabulous Troy.
When the swift storm blew up, with the rocks alee,
And the black waves heaving,
Where the grey-green olives meet the wine-dark sea.

{Lines are not divided up properly, there}

And from his rosy-fingered dawn of day
Into this puzzled twilight,
His voice speaks plain the words which you would say
If to your ship-mates you could bid farewell.
'Across the steep seas where I met my end
The ships sail on, and sail thou on, my friend'.

Anyone recognise it?



--
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* Alun ap Rhisiart                *    | When I wrote this, only God |
* Animal Behaviour Research Group *    |  and I knew what it meant.  |
* Oxford University               *    | Now, only God knows.        |
* [e-mail]           *
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