The Ships of Saint John
The Ships of Saint John is a poem written by Bliss Carman in 1920. It tells the story of a man who has lost his faith and is struggling to find meaning in life. He becomes obsessed with the idea of building ships for the mythical Saint John, but ultimately realizes that these ships are just symbols of his own spiritual emptiness. The poem explores themes of disillusionment, spiritual searching, and the search for meaning in a post-World War I world.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1904 · Genre: Poetry, Maritime, Canadian Literature · 552 words
First lines
Where are the ships I used to know, That came to port on the Fundy tide Half a century ago, In beauty and stately pride?
In they would come past the beacon light, With the sun on gleaming sail and spar, Folding their wings like birds in flight From countries strange and far.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ships of Saint John is listed on Textopian as a poem by Bliss Carman, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Bliss Carman
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Maritime, Canadian Literature
- Length: 552 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
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- A Fireside Vision by Bliss Carman
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Genres
- Poetry — Bliss Carman is renowned as a poet and the book consists of poems focusing on the theme of ships and sailing.
- Maritime — The book focuses on the maritime theme, as suggested by its title 'The Ships of Saint John', explaining various facets of sailing and ships.
- Canadian Literature — Bliss Carman, a Canadian author, reflects Canadian experiences and culture in 'The Ships of Saint John'.
Tags
poetry · nature · religion · spirituality · symbolism · imagery · metaphor · allegory · fantasy · mythology · legend · folklore