- description
- # CROSSING THE TROPICS
## Overview
"CROSSING THE TROPICS" is a poem by Herman Melville, extracted as a chapter from the text file [john_marr_and_other_poems.txt](arke:01KG89J19Y3FNVN5KWASY78BP4). It is part of the poetry collection [John Marr and Other Poems](arke:01KG8AJ5CWVMSM9AY2938E996H) within the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The poem appears between the poems "TO NED" and "THE BERG" in the collection.
## Context
The poem was extracted from the plain text file [john_marr_and_other_poems.txt](arke:01KG89J19Y3FNVN5KWASY78BP4) by a structure extraction process. This file is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. "CROSSING THE TROPICS" is preceded by [TO NED](arke:01KG8AJFSEG96CKC4WD1QZN6Q8) and followed by [THE BERG](arke:01KG8AJFSHZD8QZPDZ81GDTSA1) within the poetry collection.
## Contents
The poem "CROSSING THE TROPICS" reflects on themes of love, loss, and longing during a sea voyage. The speaker contrasts the changing celestial views as they cross the tropics with their personal feelings of separation from a loved one. References to the Southern Cross, trade winds, and Gama's (Vasco da Gama's) longing for land evoke a sense of maritime exploration and emotional yearning. The poem explores the speaker's desire to return to their love, even if it means facing harsh conditions.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:09.989Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- CROSSING THE TROPICS
- end_line
- 1394
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:32.310Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1360
- text
- CROSSING THE TROPICS
_From “The Saya-y-Manto.”_
While now the Pole Star sinks from sight
The Southern Cross it climbs the sky;
But losing thee, my love, my light,
O bride but for one bridal night,
The loss no rising joys supply.
Love, love, the Trade Winds urge abaft,
And thee, from thee, they steadfast waft.
By day the blue and silver sea
And chime of waters blandly fanned—
Nor these, nor Gama’s stars to me
May yield delight since still for thee
I long as Gama longed for land.
I yearn, I yearn, reverting turn,
My heart it streams in wake astern
When, cut by slanting sleet, we swoop
Where raves the world’s inverted year,
If roses all your porch shall loop,
Not less your heart for me will droop
Doubling the world’s last outpost drear.
O love, O love, these oceans vast:
Love, love, it is as death were past!
- title
- CROSSING THE TROPICS