Roy Campbell….Rounding the Cape

There is so much in this spectacular poem, one of the most enjoyable poets. He expresses some of the sentiments voiced on here about leaving mother Africa:

Rounding the Cape" by Roy Campbell

"The low sun whitens on the flying squalls,

against the cliffs the long grey surge is rolled

where Adamastor from his marble halls

threatens the sons of Lusus as of old."

"Faint on the glare uptowers the dauntless form

into whose shade abysmal we draw,

down on our decks, from far above the storm

grin the stark ridges of his broken jaw."

"Across his back, unheeded, we have broken

whole forests: heedless of the blood we've spilled,

in thunder still his prophecies are spoken,

in silence, by the centuries, fulfilled."

"Farewell, terrific shade! though I go free

still of the powers of darkness art thou Lord:

I watch the phantom sinking in the sea

of all that I have hated or adored."

"The prow glides smoothly on through seas quiescent:

but where the last point sinks into the deep,

the land lies dark beneath the rising crescemt,

and Night, the Negro, murmurs in his sleep."]

I was going to post this under Corn’s….hate South Africa string, but I couldn’t find it. I see it’s been moved to the Trumpet.

I watch the phantom sinking in the sea

of all that I have hated or adored