|
Upon Reading the Works of Joseph Conrad (edited)
by Ronald A PavellasHe, in his generosity and compulsion, Presents us with a universe unknown To lubbers such as we Where straight men and not so straight Confront, because there can be no other way for them, The Inevitable: the awesome powers of wind and water the workings of chance one's own angels and demons ever-hovering Death They, accumulated from everywhere and nowhere, Pull together, though love and hate, or tempt the ultimate loss, For one usually respects Death more than one cherishes hate And so, the Captain-Master-God of each vessel Forms his sometimes rebellious crew of disparate souls, Whose peculiar desires combine to bring stuff from there to here But the bringing and returning of other men's goods is not the goal The prize is the self-recognition of one's strength one's resolve one's skill one's very manhood Until the sea, Or the land for those who tire before an honorable end, Calls them to its forever embrace 09/29/2002 Author's Note: Edited and reposted 01/09/2004
Posted on 01/09/2004
Copyright © 2026 Ronald A Pavellas
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by JD Clay on 02/02/04 at 02:31 AM This is an amazing high seas saga, Ron. It makes me feel like a stole-away on a weather-worn three-master in a heavy coat of brine. Bold and bountiful read my friend.
Pe4ce... |
| Posted by Deborah S Regan on 11/16/04 at 04:42 PM I prefer John Galsworthy to his old friend, Mr. Conrad. "Heart of Darkness" has been a bit overused in schools, can't they switch to something like "Victory"? That was a more interesting Conrad novel... |
| 
