[I] ARCHIPELAGOES At the end of this sentence, rain will begin. At the rain's edge, a sail. Slowly the sail will lose sight of islands; into a mist will go the belief in harbors of an entire race. The ten-years war is finished. Helen's hair, a gray cloud. Troy, a white ashpit by the drizzling sea. The drizzle tightens like the strings of a harp. A man with clouded eyes picks up the rain and plucks the first line of the Odyssey. [II] THE COVE Resound it, surge: the legend of Yseult in languorous detonations of your surf. I've smuggled in this bleached prow, rustling shoreward to white sand guarded by fierce manchineel, a secret read by the shadow of a frigate hawk. This inlet's a furnace. The leaves flash silver signals to the waves. Far from the curse of government by race, I turn these leaves—this book's seditious fault— to feel her skeins of sea mist cross my face, and catch, on the wind's mouth, a taste of salt. [III] SEA CRANES "Only in a world where there are cranes and horses," wrote Robert Graves, "can poetry survive." Or adept goats on crags. Epic follows the plough, metre the ring of the anvil; prophecy divines the figurations of storks, and awe the arc of the stallion's neck. The flame has left the charred wick of the cypress; the light will catch these islands in their turn. Magnificent frigates inaugurate the dusk that flashes through the whisking tails of horses, the stony fields they graze. From the hammered anvil of the promontory the spray settles in stars. Generous ocean, turn the wanderer from his salt sheets, the prodigal drawn to the deep troughs of the swine-black porpoise. Wrench his heart's wheel and set his forehead here.
Read the complete lyrics to "Map of the New World" by Derek Walcott in 1981. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.
"Map of the New World" is performed by Derek Walcott. in 1981 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL.
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"Map of the New World" is credited to Derek Walcott. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.
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