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Famous Steersman Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Steersman poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous steersman poems. These examples illustrate what a famous steersman poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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by Lanier, Sidney
...oval moon, a perfect pearl.
In that large lustre all our haste surceased,
The sail seemed fain to furl,

The silent steersman landward turned,
And ship and shore set breast to breast.
Under a palm wherethrough a planet burned
We ate, and sank to rest.

But soon from sleep's dear death (it seemed)
I rose and strolled along the sea
Down silver distances that faintly gleamed
On to infinity.

Till suddenly I paused, for lo!
A shape (from whence I ne'er divined)
Ap...Read More



by Whitman, Walt
..., at a ship’s helm, 
A young steersman, steering with care. 

A bell through fog on a sea-coast dolefully ringing, 
An ocean-bell—O a warning bell, rock’d by the waves. 

O you give good notice indeed, you bell by the sea-reefs ringing,
Ringing, ringing, to warn the ship from its wreck-place. 

For, as on the alert, O steersman, you mind the bell’s admonition, 
The bows turn...Read More

by Marvell, Andrew
...
Some lusty mate, who with more careful eye 
Counted the hours, and every star did spy, 
The help does from the artless steersman strain, 
And doubles back unto the safer main. 
What though a while they grumble discontent, 
Saving himself, he does their loss prevent. 

'Tis not a freedom, that where all command; 
Nor tyranny, where one does them withstand: 
But who of both the bounder knows to lay 
Him as their father must the state obey. 

Thou, and thine house (...Read More

by Alighieri, Dante
...
 The bank we reached, and on the stream beheld 
 A bark ply toward us. 
 Of exceeding eld, 
 And hoary showed the steersman, screaming shrill, 
 With horrid glee the while he neared us, "Woe 
 To ye, depraved! - Is here no Heaven, but ill 
 The place where I shall herd ye. Ice and fire 
 And darkness are the wages of their hire 
 Who serve unceasing here - But thou that there 
 Dost wait though live, depart ye. Yea, forbear! 
 A different passage and a lighter f...Read More

by Wilde, Oscar
...shrouds,
A wild moon in this wintry sky
Gleams like an angry lion's eye
Out of a mane of tawny clouds.

The muffled steersman at the wheel
Is but a shadow in the gloom; -
And in the throbbing engine-room
Leap the long rods of polished steel.

The shattered storm has left its trace
Upon this huge and heaving dome,
For the thin threads of yellow foam
Float on the waves like ravelled lace....Read More



by Stevenson, Robert Louis
...ng stars beguile.

Hope bears the sole command;
Hope, with unshaken eyes,
Sees flaw and storm arise;
Hope, the good steersman, with unwearying hand,
Steers, under changing skies,
Unchanged toward the land.

O wind that bravely blows!
O hope that sails with all
Where stars and voices call!
O ship undaunted that forever goes
Where God, her admiral,
His battle signal shows!

What though the seas and wind
Far on the deep should whelm
Colours and sails and helm?
There, too...Read More

by Whitman, Walt
..., 
The clouds already closing in upon me, 
The voyage balk’d—the course disputed, lost, 
I yield my ships to Thee.

Steersman unseen! henceforth the helms are Thine; 
Take Thou command—(what to my petty skill Thy navigation?) 
My hands, my limbs grow nerveless; 
My brain feels rack’d, bewilder’d; Let the old timbers part—I will not
 part! 
I will cling fast to Thee, O God, though the waves buffet me;
Thee, Thee, at least, I know. 

Is it the prophet’s thought I speak,...Read More

by Marvell, Andrew
...e;
Some lusty Mate, who with more careful Eye
Counted the Hours, and ev'ry Star did spy,
The Helm does from the artless Steersman strain,
And doubles back unto the safer Main.
What though a while they grumble discontent,
Saving himself he does their loss prevent.
'Tis not a Freedome, that where All command;
Nor Tyranny, where One does them withstand:
But who of both the Bounders knows to lay
Him as their Father must the State obey.
Thou, and thine House, like Noah...Read More

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