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Collected poems of Herman Melville

Melville, Herman (1819-1891)

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BATTLE-PIECES
  
THE PORTENT
  
MISGIVINGS
  
THE CONFLICT OF CONVICTIONS
  
APATHY AND ENTHUSIASM
  
THE MARCH INTO VIRGINIA
  
LYON
  
BALL'S BLUFF
  
DUPONT'S ROUND FIGHT
  
THE STONE FLEET
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DONELSON
  
[section]
  
IMPORTANT.
  
LATER FROM THE FORT.
  
FURTHER.
  
LATER.
  
1 P.M.
  
3 P.M.
  
VICTORY!
  
LATER AND LAST.
  
THE CUMBERLAND
  
IN THE TURRET
  
THE TEMERAIRE
  
A UTILITARIAN VIEW OF THE MONITOR'S FIGHT
  
SHILOH
  
THE BATTLE FOR THE MISSISSIPPI
  
MALVERN HILL
  
THE VICTOR OF ANTIETAM
  
BATTLE OF STONE RIVER, TENNESSEE
  
RUNNING THE BATTERIES
  
STONEWALL JACKSON
  
STONEWALL JACKSON
  
GETTYSBURG
  
THE HOUSE-TOP
  
LOOK-OUT MOUNTAIN
  
CHATTANOOGA
  
THE ARMIES OF THE WILDERNESS
(1863–4)
  
ON THE PHOTOGRAPH OF A CORPS COMMANDER
  
THE SWAMP ANGEL
  
THE BATTLE FOR THE BAY
  
SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK
  
IN THE PRISON PEN
  
THE COLLEGE COLONEL
  
THE EAGLE OF THE BLUE
  
A DIRGE FOR McPHERSON
  
AT THE CANNON'S MOUTH
  
THE MARCH TO THE SEA
  
THE FRENZY IN THE WAKE
  
THE FALL OF RICHMOND
  
THE SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX
  
A CANTICLE:
  
THE MARTYR
  
“THE COMING STORM”
  
REBEL COLOR-BEARERS AT SHILOH
  
THE MUSTER
  
AURORA-BOREALIS
  
THE RELEASED REBEL PRISONER
  
A GRAVE NEAR PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA
  
“FORMERLY A SLAVE”
  
THE APPARITION
  
MAGNANIMITY BAFFLED
  
ON THE SLAIN COLLEGIANS
  
AMERICA
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VERSES INSCRIPTIVE AND MEMORIAL
  
ON THE HOME GUARDS
  
INSCRIPTION
  
THE FORTITUDE OF THE NORTH
  
ON THE MEN OF MAINE
  
AN EPITAPH
  
INSCRIPTION
  
THE MOUND BY THE LAKE
  
ON THE SLAIN AT CHICKAMAUGA
  
AN UNINSCRIBED MONUMENT
  
ON SHERMAN'S MEN
  
ON THE GRAVE OF A YOUNG CAVALRY OFFICER KILLED IN THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA
  
A REQUIEM
  
ON A NATURAL MONUMENT
  
COMMEMORATIVE OF A NAVAL VICTORY
  
PRESENTATION TO THE AUTHORITIES
  
THE RETURNED VOLUNTEER TO HIS RIFLE
  
THE SCOUT TOWARD ALDIE
  
LEE IN THE CAPITOL
  
A MEDITATION
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JOHN MARR AND OTHER SAILORS
  
JOHN MARR
  
BRIDEGROOM DICK
  
TOM DEADLIGHT
  
JACK ROY
  
THE HAGLETS
  
THE AEOLIAN HARP
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MINOR SEA PIECES
  
TO THE MASTER OF THE “METEOR”
  
FAR OFF-SHORE
  
THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK
  
THE FIGURE-HEAD
  
THE GOOD CRAFT “SNOW-BIRD”
  
OLD COUNSEL
  
THE TUFT OF KELP
  
THE MALDIVE SHARK
  
TO NED
  
CROSSING THE TROPICS
  
THE BERG
  
THE ENVIABLE ISLES
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PEBBLES
 1. 
[I Though the Clerk of the Weather insist]
 2. 
[II Old are the creeds, but stale the schools]
 3. 
[III In hollows of the liquid hills]
 4. 
[IV On ocean where the embattled fleets repair]
 5. 
[V Implacable I, the old implacable Sea]
 6. 
[VI Curled in the comb of yon billow Andean]
 7. 
[VII Healed of my hurt, I laud the inhuman Sea]
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TIMOLEON
  
TIMOLEON
  
AFTER THE PLEASURE PARTY
  
THE NIGHT-MARCH
  
THE RAVAGED VILLA
  
THE MARGRAVE'S BIRTHNIGHT
  
MAGIAN WINE
  
THE GARDEN OF METRODORUS
  
THE NEW ZEALOT TO THE SUN
  
THE WEAVER
  
LAMIA'S SONG
  
IN A GARRET
  
MONODY
  
LONE FOUNTS
  
THE BENCH OF BOORS
  
THE ENTHUSIAST
  
ART
  
BUDDHA
  
C---'S LAMENT
  
SHELLEY'S VISION
  
FRAGMENTS OF A LOST GNOSTIC POEM OF THE 12th CENTURY
  
THE MARCHIONESS OF BRINVILLIERS
  
THE AGE OF THE ANTONINES
  
HERBA SANTA
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FRUIT OF TRAVEL LONG AGO
  
VENICE
  
IN A BYE-CANAL
  
PISA'S LEANING TOWER
  
IN A CHURCH OF PADUA
  
MILAN CATHEDRAL
  
PAUSILIPPO
  
THE ATTIC LANDSCAPE
  
THE SAME
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THE PARTHENON
 1. 
I SEEN ALOFT FROM AFAR
 2. 
II NEARER VIEWED
 3. 
III THE FRIEZE
 4. 
IV THE LAST TILE
  
GREEK MASONRY
  
GREEK ARCHITECTURE
  
OFF CAPE COLONNA
  
THE ARCHIPELAGO
  
SYRA
  
DISINTERMENT OF THE HERMES
  
THE APPARITION
  
IN THE DESERT
  
THE GREAT PYRAMID
  
L'ENVOI
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WEEDS AND WILDINGS WITH A ROSE OR TWO
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PART I THE YEAR
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THE LOITERER
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
  
WHEN FORTH THE SHEPHERD LEADS THE FLOCK
  
THE LITTLE GOOD FELLOWS
  
CLOVER
  
MADCAPS
  
THE OLD FASHION
  
BUTTERFLY DITTY
  
THE BLUE-BIRD
  
THE LOVER AND THE SYRINGA BUSH
  
THE DAIRYMAN'S CHILD
  
TROPHIES OF PEACE
  
IN THE PAUPER'S TURNIP-FIELD
  
A WAY-SIDE WEED
  
THE CHIPMUNK
  
FIELD ASTERS
  
ALWAYS WITH US!
  
STOCKINGS IN THE FARM-HOUSE CHIMNEY
  
A DUTCH CHRISTMAS UP THE HUDSON IN THE TIME OF PATROONS
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PART II THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER
  
TIME'S BETRAYAL
  
PROFUNDITY AND LEVITY
  
INSCRIPTION
  
THE CUBAN PIRATE
  
IRIS
  
THE AVATAR
  
THE AMERICAN ALOE ON EXHIBITION
  
A GROUND VINE
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PART III RIP VAN WINKLE'S LILAC
  
RIP VAN WINKLE'S LILAC
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A ROSE OR TWO
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PART I AS THEY FELL
  
AMOROSO
  
HEARTH-ROSES
  
UNDER THE GROUND
  
THE AMBUSCADE
  
THE NEW ROSICRUCIANS
  
THE VIAL OF ATTAR
  
ROSE WINDOW
  
ROSARY BEADS
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THE DEVOTION OF THE FLOWERS TO THEIR LADY
  
TO OUR QUEEN
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PART II
  
THE ROSE FARMER
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MARQUIS DE GRANDVIN
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AT THE HOSTELRY
 1. 
[I]
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
 4. 
IV
 5. 
V
 6. 
VI
 7. 
VII
 8. 
VIII
  
A SEQUEL
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NAPLES IN THE TIME OF BOMBA as told by Major Jack Gentian
 1. 
[I]
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
 4. 
IV
 5. 
V
 6. 
VI
 7. 
VII
 8. 
VIII
 9. 
IX
  
AFTER-PIECE
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
  
IMMOLATED
  
MADAM MIRROR
  
THE WISE VIRGINS TO MADAM MIRROR
  
THE NEW ANCIENT OF DAYS
  
THE RUSTY MAN
  
THY AIM, THY AIM?
  
THE OLD SHIPMASTER AND HIS CRAZY BARN
  
CAMOENS
  
Camoens In The Hospital
  
MONTAIGNE AND HIS KITTEN
  
FALSTAFF'S LAMENT OVER PRINCE HAL BECOME HENRY V
  
SHADOW AT THE FEAST
MRS. B---
  
MERRY DITTY OF THE SAD MAN
  
HONOR
  
FRUIT AND FLOWER PAINTER
  
THE MEDALLION
  
TIME'S LONG AGO!
  
IN THE HALL OF MARBLES
  
GOLD IN THE MOUNTAIN
  
IN THE JOVIAL AGE OF OLD
  
A SPIRIT APPEARED TO ME
  
GIVE ME THE NERVE
  
MY JACKET OLD
  
IN THE OLD FARM-HOUSE
  
TO ---
  
A BATTLE PICTURE
  
OLD AGE IN HIS AILING
  
HEARTS-OF-GOLD
  
PONTOOSUCE
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UNPUBLISHED OR UNCOLLECTED POEMS
  
EPISTLE TO DANIEL SHEPHERD
  
INSCRIPTION
  
THE ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE
  
TO TOM
  
SUGGESTED BY THE RUINS OF A MOUNTAIN-TEMPLE IN ARCADIA, ONE BUILT BY THE ARCHITECT OF THE PARTHENON
  
PUZZLEMENT
  
THE CONTINENTS
  
THE DUST-LAYERS
  
A RAIL ROAD CUTTING NEAR ALEXANDRIA IN 1855
  
A REASONABLE CONSTITUTION
  
RAMMON
  
DITTY OF ARISTIPPUS
  
IN A NUTSHELL
  
ADIEU
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POEMS FROM THE NOVELS
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From Mardi
  
WE FISH
  
SONG OF THE PADDLERS
  
DRINKING SONG
  
LIKE THE FISH
  
ROYAL IS THE ROSE
  
BE MERRY
  
SEA BURIAL
  
THE SONG
  
INVOCATION
  
SMOKING SONG
  
FULL ROUND, FULL SOFT, HER DEWY ARMS
  
A RAY OF THE MOON
  
SONG OF ARMS
  
QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!
  
DEPARTED THE PRIDE, AND THE GLORY OF MARDI
  
HER BOWER IS NOT OF THE VINE
  
HER SWEET, SWEET MOUTH!
  
GOLD-HUNTERS
  
HALF-VEILED ABOVE THE HILLS, YET ROSY BRIGHT
  
MAD SONG
  
THE ISLES HOLD THEE NOT, THOU DEPARTED!
  
PADDLER'S SONG
  
HAIL! VOYAGERS, HAIL!
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From Moby-Dick
  
JONAH'S SONG
  
WE'LL DRINK TO-NIGHT
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From “Under the Rose”
  
“SPECKS, TINY SPECKS”
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From Piazza Tales
  
OH, BROTHER JACK
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From Billy Budd
  
BILLY IN THE DARBIES

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391

GIVE ME THE NERVE

Give me the nerve
That never will swerve
Running out on life's ledges of danger;
Mine, mine be the nerve
That in peril will serve,
Since life is to safety a stranger.
When roaring below
The cataracts go,
And tempests are over me scudding;
Give, give me the calm
That is better than balm,
And the courage that keepeth new-budding.
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