The Harpooner’s Repose The oarsmen lay their hands to oaken…
The Harpooner’s Repose The oarsmen lay their hands to oaken beams, Their calloused palms made harder with each pull Of polished handle wood. Striped shirts’ strained seams Do threaten now to split, and caps of wool Are soaked with labor’s sweat. Rope espadrilles Dig deep into the sodden hull for clout To force a stronger heave o’er waves like hills And t’ward the sighted spray of humpback’s spout. But I, the hurler of the spear of wood And iron, sit quiet on the platform stage Of my approaching act and ponder good, Eschewing thoughts of sadness or of rage. For I must strike the beast from pose of rest And attitude of bliss within the breast. Write about the meaning of the poem. What is this poem about on its surface? What is the deeper, symbolic meaning of the poem? Write about any personal reflections you had while reading the poem.
Read DetailsThe Harpooner’s Repose The oarsmen lay their hands to oaken…
The Harpooner’s Repose The oarsmen lay their hands to oaken beams, Their calloused palms made harder with each pull Of polished handle wood. Striped shirts’ strained seams Do threaten now to split, and caps of wool Are soaked with labor’s sweat. Rope espadrilles Dig deep into the sodden hull for clout To force a stronger heave o’er waves like hills And t’ward the sighted spray of humpback’s spout. But I, the hurler of the spear of wood And iron, sit quiet on the platform stage Of my approaching act and ponder good, Eschewing thoughts of sadness or of rage. For I must strike the beast from pose of rest And attitude of bliss within the breast. Write about the language of the poem. What unfamiliar words did you encounter and have to look up? Point out any of the following: alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, metaphor, simile. What was the overarching imagery of the poem? What would you say was the tone of the poem?
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