Poetry

NEWPORT NEWS.

Joaquin Miller


  • The huge sea monster, the "Merrimac;"
  • The mad sea monster, the "Monitor;"
  • You may sweep the sea, peer forward and back,
  • But never a sign or a sound of war.
  • A vulture or two in the heavens blue;
  • A sweet town building, a boatman's call:
  • The far sea-song of a pleasure crew;
  • The sound of hammers. And that is all.

  • And where are the monsters that tore this main?
  • And where are the monsters that shook this shore?
  • The sea grew mad! And the shore shot flame!
  • The mad sea monsters they are no more.
  • The palm, and the pine, and the sea sands brown;
  • The far sea songs of the pleasure crews;
  • The air like balm in this building town
  • And that is the picture of Newport News.