And the sea grants each man new hope
As sleep brings dreams of home…
-Christopher Columbus
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Part I
- It is an ancient Mariner,
- And he stoppeth one of three.
- 'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
- Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?
- The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide,
- And I am next of kin;
- The guests are met, the feast is set:
- May'st hear the merry din.'
- He holds him with his skinny hand,
- 'There was a ship,' quoth he.
- 'Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!'
- Eftsoons his hand dropt he.
- He holds him with his glittering eye--
- The Wedding-Guest stood still,
- And listens like a three years' child:
- The Mariner hath his will.
- The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
- He cannot choose but hear;
- And thus spake on that ancient man,
- The bright-eyed Mariner.
- 'The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,