Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SHAPES WERE OF MOTION, by ALICE MONKS MEARS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SHAPES WERE OF MOTION, by                    
First Line: The shapes were of motion in their dreaming
Last Line: Are the shapes forever of motion in this dreaming?
Subject(s): Sea Voyages; Ships & Shipping


The shapes were of motion in their dreaming,
for man, to whom were subjected the beast and the fowl and the seed,
contemplated another dominion
and willed for his body the spirit's mobility.

So voyage and the profile of ships.
Resilient the wood and the metal formed to the ungovernable water
lay bride evading against the sea thunderous for possession.
And the body triumphed in speed,
cleaving storm, to trace the lanes
invisible, exact, where star and mind intersected;
explored water's distance, depth, marvels and treasons,
gathering cargoes, legends, decisions of wars.

Impatient of obstacle earth, locomotive
was moulded monster rigid, firebellied,
obediently to the dream pastured and driven.
With thunder on the trestle, whistle
drawn valleywise, curve of cars on the mountain,
rails in the rain in the noon silver,
multiple, interlacing, single, interminable,
envy of travellers follows the speeding.

From the beginning marvel of flight haunted the brooding with shape of wing,
betrayed the rebel and maker contriving it.
Sun struck, wind tumbled the foolish,
sea swallowed, earth crushed, fire ate them.
But answer after answer was exacted from sky
till body, housed in the intricate metal,
forcing to conflict powers within and without,
can lift at will sunward, starward,
and passes unseen over forest, mountain, city,
to harbor on time in the far smooth ports.

Now body, that achieved the ungiven dominion,
questions the driving spirit still hungering:
what element do you demand, what dimension?
On the shore of what wonder do you choose
to land who are forever the invader?
To the tracing of what yet impossible journey
are the shapes forever of motion in this dreaming?





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