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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BETTER SHIP - PANAMA, by GLENN WARD DRESBACH First Line: Juan has a new ship Last Line: "was better for me! . . ." Subject(s): Ships & Shipping | |||
Juan has a new ship With sails like the wings Of a swan spread at dawn When the jungle sings A sleepy wild song. And the sails are strong And the prow is high To go out on voyages That end in the sky. Juan had an old ship That was not as good As he'd wish for the sea. There were worms in the wood, And holes in the sail, And he went where he could In slimy lagoons Set back from the gales, And in the yellow-fanged rivers Where crocodiles' tails Flapped down as he came. And he longed for blue trails Of the sun-crested sea, Bound out for the islands Where no one could blame The trade there would be. Juan has a new ship And men of the town Have wondered he built it And women put down Their washing awhile By the slow-talking stream And look with wide eyes As if at a dream. Juan's wife is with them And she looks, and is sad. She sighs to herself, She said, "I'll stay. Only -- Juan will be away, Much of the time." And tears in her eyes Made her look away Against the skies Where the little bay Swept to the sea. "Only -- Juan will be away! The ship that he had Was better for me! . . ." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LIVE IT THROUGH by DAVID IGNATOW THE SHIP POUNDING by DONALD HALL ULTRAISTA ONEIRIC by ANSELM HOLLO THE NORTH SHIP by PHILIP LARKIN GOOD SHIPS by JOHN CROWE RANSOM |
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