"Quaker Graveyard in Nantucket" by Robert Lowell (poetry reading)

This is dedicated to Warren Winslow, a cousin of Lowell, who died at sea when his ship sank.

The opening quotation was from Genesis, but it's inexact.

Clamavimus means "we cry out to you" (I think)

There are many references to Moby Dick, such as the boat's name "Pequod". The poem has been reviwed extensively on the web. There's more notes here:
http://tinyurl.com/nj97dm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quaker_Graveyard_in_Nantucket

Our Lady of Walsingham is at the Slipper Chapel, Walsingham, Norfolk, England.

"Pilgrims have made the journey to Walsingham from all over Britain - and the world - since the 11th century, not long after the Lady Richeldis had her vision of Our Lady in 1061. However, Henry VIII ordered the Shrine to be destroyed in 1538 as part of the English Reformation and it was not until 1922 that the then Vicar of Walsingham decided to undertake the restoration of the Shrine."
http://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/welcome/index.htm

The quotation was originally, "Non est species ei, neque decor." It is from Isiah ch53 v2 - In the King James version it is rendered as "There is no beauty in him, nor comeliness" or in other versions "he has neither form nor majesty".

The most unconsciously apt remark I found when searching the web was from a young man who had been set this poem for coursework, appealing for help, "What's this guy on?"

Well, he was on alcohol, tranquillisers, unrewarding relationships, psychoanalysis: in fact, everything he could think of that could be guaranteed to do him more mischief and increase his misery....

This poem among others from Lord Weary's Castle won him the Pulitzer Prize in 1947.

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Tags:

• Quaker
• Graveyard
• Nantucket
• Robert
• Lowell

[vivascargill]

great poem notice how the cadences are cribbed from allen Tate" "Ode for the Confederate Dead"

[tadhgb07]

I love this poem. The language with its strange sounds and images are overpowering but its also very tender and moving.

[thePuzzledDragon]

grim. very grim. well read though.