Cover of The White Sail, and Other Poems

The White Sail, and Other Poems

  • Free to read
  • 60 min read
  • 13 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"The White Sail, and Other Poems" by Louise Imogen Guiney is a collection of poetry written in the late 19th century. The poems within this volume explore themes of love, longing, and the human experience, combining both lyrical and narrative elements. Guiney's work often draws upon classical references, evoking a sense of timelessness and depth in her exploration of the human condition. The opening portion of the collection features a vivid narrative poem centered on the character of Ægeus and his anxiety over the fate of his son, Theseus, who has embarked on a perilous journey to Crete. The narrative describes Ægeus's despair as he waits for news of his son's safe return, recounting the emotional moments and the weight of expectation intertwined with mythology. Guiney employs rich imagery and a thoughtful examination of themes such as parental love, hope, and the intertwining of fate and choice, laying a captivating foundation for the poems that follow in the collection.

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  • American poetry · 19th century

Read the opening

Chapter I

SCORNER of the pleading faces,
In the first year of his reign,
From the lean crowd and its traces

Down the open orchard-lane
Walked young Mahmoud in his glory,
In his pomp and his disdain

And beyond all oratory,
Music’s sweetness, ocean’s might,
Fell a voice from branches hoary:

‘He whose heart is at life’s height,
Who has wisdom, love, and riches,
Islam’s greatest, dies this night.’

And he crossed the rampart ditches
Blinded, and confused, and slow;
High in palaced nooks and niches

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Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II
  4. Chapter III
  5. Chapter I
  6. Chapter II
  7. Chapter III
  8. Chapter IV
  9. Chapter V
  10. Chapter I: ‘Io mi sentii svegliar dentro allo core.’
  11. Chapter II: ‘Tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare.’
  12. Chapter III: ‘Era venuta nella mente mia.’
  13. Chapter IV: ‘Deh peregrini, che pensosi andate.’

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About this edition

This free edition of The White Sail, and Other Poems by Louise Imogen Guiney comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #54907, released 2017-06-14. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Poetry, Mythology, Legends & Folklore, British Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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