Poetry Friday: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
…Beyond the shadow of the ship,
I watched the water-snakes :
They moved in tracks of shining white,
And when they reared, the elfish light
Fell off in hoary flakes.
Within the shadow of the ship
I watched their rich attire :
Blue, glossy green, and velvet black,
They coiled and swam ; and every track
Was a flash of golden fire.
O happy living things ! no tongue
Their beauty might declare :
A spring of love gushed from my heart,
And I blessed them unaware :
Sure my kind saint took pity on me,
And I blessed them unaware.
The self-same moment I could pray ;
And from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank
Like lead into the sea.
Oh sleep ! it is a gentle thing,
Beloved from pole to pole !
To Mary Queen the praise be given !
She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven,
That slid into my soul…
—from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Nancy says:
This is one of my favorite poems! Thanks for reminding me of how much I enjoy it…
On February 16, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Nina says:
There is a wonderful audio reading of this poem at the Gutenburg Project.
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/12713
On February 21, 2007 at 6:54 pm
elena maria vidal says:
Beautiful. I have not read this poem in a long while. Thank you.
On February 22, 2007 at 7:16 am
Little Willow says:
Great selection!
On February 24, 2007 at 4:15 pm