The Moon is Up

Alfred Noyes 1880 (Wolverhampton) – 1958 (Isle of Wight)



The moon is up, the stars are bright.
the wind is fresh and free!
We're out to seek the gold tonight
across the silver sea!
The world is growing grey and old:
break out the sails again!
We're out to see a Realm of Gold
beyond the Spanish Main.

We're sick of all the cringing knees,
the courtly smiles and lies
God, let Thy singing channel breeze
lighten our hearts and eyes!
Let love no more be bought and sold
for earthly loss or gain;
We're out to seek an Age of Gold
beyond the Spanish Main.

Beyond the light of far Cathay,
beyond all mortal dreams,
Beyond the reach of night and day
Our El Dorado gleams,
Revealing - as the skies unfold -
A star without a stain,
The Glory of the Gates of Gold
beyond the Spanish Main.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 29, 2023

44 sec read
179

Quick analysis:

Scheme ababcxcD efefcdcD ghghcdcD
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 707
Words 143
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8

Alfred Noyes

Alfred Noyes was an English poet best known for his ballads The Highwayman 1906 and The Barrel Organ more…

All Alfred Noyes poems | Alfred Noyes Books

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