Winslow Homer, “Eastern Point Light”
Over star-glimmered waves, we journeyed and sailed under the moon.
There we bemoaned our fate, still sailing—railed under the moon.
We see the fork-tongued serpent, slither-scaled–
no siren, silver-voiced with hair unveiled under the moon.
From the towering giant, one-eyed, we quailed,
but when blinded he was curtailed under the moon.
On blood-wine seas, the winds caught and prevailed–
yet what of the gods, we flattered, yet failed, under the moon?
What lands should we conquer? If heroes, we’re hailed.
What tales of those places to you we’d regale under the moon?
Do we return to love, or to marriages failed?
My own wife, what of her travails under the moon?
Too far, too soon, the poet sleeps unassailed
to the gentle rhythm of the waves, inhales, exhales, under the moon
A re-worked ghazal for dVerse.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Did you pick Winslow Homer on purpose, or was it the Oracle giving you the image as well as the words? Very Homeric, especially the blood-wine sea. I wonder if they cared about the wives they left behind? I’m guessing, not much.
This was a ghazal I had written for dVerse at some other point, but I revised it. Then I found the Winslow Homer–most likely some Oracle-whispering involved. Yeah, I tend to agree with you about them not caring about wives. But perhaps some did.
I think you’re right, some of them must have cared privately, but it can’t have been considered very manly to admit it.
UGH. You’re probably right.
So full of imageries, very beautifully written.
Thank you very much!
Beautiful, Merril.
Thank you, Jill!
Ah Ithaca! Beautifully rendered thank you Merril 😀
Thank you, Susan!
This poem flows with the gentle rhythm of the waves
Thank you very much, Derrick!
I really enjoyed this. The internal rhyme adds to the songlike quality. This is remarkable poetic storytelling!
Thank you so much for your very kind words!
A marvelous Ghazal Merril!
Thank you, Linda!
I love your sophisticated take on the form.
Thank you very much! I appreciate that.
The perfect tale for a ghazal. It is very song-like, a ballad.
And what a wonderful painting, too! (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe. I like this painting, too.
I am in awe of your poetic talents.
Wow–thank you so much, Dale!
I am!
Absolutely beautiful.
Thank you so much, Rosemary!
I like this very much. It is lush, poetic, alliterative, and literary; so, of course, I find it appealing but moreover, I think it’s very well written. Nothing feels contrived. It flows easily with the refrain at the end making it musical. I think this is very successful as to form and clearly a well-realized poem in the form! Congratulations!
Thank you very much, Gay! I appreciate your very kind words, and I’m pleased that you found it both pleasing and well-realized in form.
Well I guess it was mainly men writing ghazals in the past and in those times so it seems a good idea to go on Homer’s journey and think of those back home! There is a very fluent feel to the words and I like the internal rhymes too.
Thank you very much! I hadn’t thought of it in terms of mainly men writing in the past. Perhaps this is influenced by my own female voice. 🙂
Or perhaps like George Eliot they used a male name!
🙂