BRITISH POET JOHN MASEFIELD

June 1, today is the birthday of John Masefield, the British Poet Laureate 1930-1967. He had close connections with US visiting Yale and Oxford Universities and receiving honorary doctorates from them. A gifted speaker, he addressed American soldiers, winning their acclaim in the process.

Masefield worked as a sailor while in youth and had great appeal for the poetry of the Seas.

Sample: A brief analysis of the poem "Cargoes". He compares three ships arriving from three countries with their varying cargo.

1. From Ophir (New South Wales, Australia - first paying goldmine in Australia ): apes, cedarwood, ivory, peacocks, sandalwood, and sweet white wine.

2. From Isthmus (Panama): The Spanish ship is bringing amethysts, cinnamon, diamonds, emeralds, gold moidores* and topazes.

3. From the Channel: The vessel is salt-caked and smoke stacked. Cargo: cheap tin trays, coal, firewood, iron ware, road-rail, pig-lead.

Direct meaning we get is that the British vessel was dirty and carrying abominable things which are cheap.

Indirect indication is: Distant colonial countries send beautiful and valuable cargo.

What type of cargo the Australian, Panamian, and British vessels carry now-a-days? Definitely not gold moidores.

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gold moidore = Portuguese/Brazillian gold coin popular during the 19th Century.