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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DOWN CHANNEL, by ARTHUR GLYN PRYS-JONES Poet's Biography
First Line: In that miraculous sunset, wonder-spent
Last Line: Was that lone caravel that stood to sea.
Subject(s): Immortality; Wales; Welshmen; Welshwomen
First Line: In that miraculous sunset, wonder-spent
Last Line: Was that lone caravel that stood to sea.
Subject(s): Immortality; Wales; Welshmen; Welshwomen
I
IN that miraculous sunset, wonder-spent,
I saw a phantom ship, strange-rigged, afar
Upon the horizon where there glowed and went
The nimbus of the first, faint-risen star ...
It seemed as if an ancient caravel
Long captive in the dungeons of the deep
Had upward swung upon some eddying swell
That broke the bondage of her crystal sleep—
Once more to cleave the waters as of old,
Manned by her swart Phœnicians—those who stayed
The jackal Biscay seas—with laden hold
Of merchandise to tempt our sires to trade.
And through those western doors, warm-hued, ajar,
She set her prow ... and went her olden way
Across the sea — dim in the fading day
And ebony silhouette of line and spar.
II
A wraith, a dream, a shadow-ship maybe
That sailed forgotten seas from ghostly Tyre ...
And full of carven things beyond desire
Was that lone caravel that stood to sea.
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THE BARD; A PINDARIC ODE by THOMAS GRAY
THE TRIUMPHS OF OWEN: A FRAGMENT by THOMAS GRAY
WELSH LANDSCAPE by RONALD STUART THOMAS
A BALLAD OF GLYNDWR'S RISING by ARTHUR GLYN PRYS-JONES
A HYMN FOR ST. DAVID'S DAY (TO THE MEMORY OF SIR OWEN M. EDWARDS) by ARTHUR GLYN PRYS-JONES
A SONG OF CALDEY (TO THE PRIOR AND BENEDICTINE BRETHREN ON THE ISLAND) by ARTHUR GLYN PRYS-JONES