But drunkenly, or secretly, we swore, Disciples of that…
““But drunkenly, or secretly, we swore, Disciples of that astigmatic saint, That we would never leave the island Until we had put down, in paint, in words, As palmists learn the network of a hand, All of its sunken, leaf-choked ravines, Every neglected, self-pitying inlet Muttering in brackish dialect, the ropes of mangroves From which old soldier crabs slipped Surrendering to slush, Each ochre track seeking some hilltop and Losing itself in an unfinished phrase, Under sand shipyards where the burnt-out palms Inverted the design of unrigged schooners, Entering forests, boiling with life, Goyave, corrosol, bois-canot, sapotille. Days! The sun drumming, drumming, Past the defeated pennons of the palms, Roads limp from sunstroke, Past green flutes of the grass The ocean cannonading, come! Wonder that opened like the fan Of the dividing fronds On some noon-struck sahara, Where my heart from its rib cage yelped like a pup After clouds of sanderlings rustily wheeling The world on its ancient, Invisible axis, The breakers slow-dolphining over more breakers, To swivel our easels down, as firm As conquerors who had discovered home.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet describes an island’s vivid, chaotic beauty, likening its natural details to artistic creation.
In simple terms: Nature’s details inspire art and memory.
Key Takeaway
Observe and translate surroundings into art.
Themes
nature
artistry
memory
identity
Mood
reflective
evocative
Type
poetic
descriptive
When to use this quote
- travel writing
- visual art
- environmental activism
- education
Key Concepts
sensory detail
metaphor
place attachment
Questions to Reflect On
- Which natural detail most moves you?
- How does place shape personal identity?
A Different Perspective
The dense imagery may overwhelm readers, obscuring the core message.