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English Literature

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A good way to start thinking about a poem is to read it a couple of times, and make sure you are clear what all the words mean. Next, ask yourself what the poem's subject matter is. A poem's subject is not the same as its meaning, since poems communicate their meaning in a number of different ways - not just the everyday meaning of the words. But asking yourself what is this poem about? is a good place to start.

The Poem

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Patrolling Barnegat

Wild, wild the storm, and the sea high runningSteady the roar of the gale, with incessant undertone muttering,Shouts of demoniac laughter fitfully piercing and pealing,Waves, air, midnight, their savagest trinity lashing,Out in the shadows there milk-white combs careering,On beachy slush and sand spirts of snow fierce slanting,Where through the murk the easterly death-wind breasting,Through cutting swirl and spray watchful and firm advancing,(That in the distance! is that a wreck? is the red signal flaring?)Slush and sand of the beach tireless till daylight wending,Steadily, slowly, through hoarse roar never remitting,Along the midnight edge by those milk-white combs careering,A group of dim, weird forms, struggling, the night confronting,That savage trinity warily watching.