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Poem
March 3, 1886
Lancaster Daily Intelligencer
Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Joaquin Miller's 1886 poem contrasts the peaceful present of Newport News, Virginia, with its Civil War past, referencing the ironclad ships Merrimac and Monitor in a once-battle-torn area now marked by building, nature, and leisure.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
NEWPORT NEWS. 1886
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
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
—Joaquin Miller in Independent
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
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
—Joaquin Miller in Independent
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Pastoral
What themes does it cover?
War Military
Nature Seasons
What keywords are associated?
Newport News
Merrimac
Monitor
Civil War Ships
Peace After War
Joaquin Miller
What entities or persons were involved?
Joaquin Miller In Independent
Poem Details
Title
Newport News. 1886
Author
Joaquin Miller In Independent
Subject
Peaceful Present Of Newport News After Civil War
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
The Huge Sea Monster, The "Merrimac;"
The Mad Sea Monster, The "Monitor;"
The Mad Sea Monsters They Are No More.
And That Is The Picture Of Newport News