The Anathemata

Middle-sea and Lear-sea (continued)

Extend your hands

all you orantes

for the iron-dark shore

is to our lee

over the lead-dark sea

and schisted Ocrinuma looms in fairish visibility

and white-plumed riders shoreward go

and

THE BIRDS DECLARE IT

that wing white and low

that also leeward3 go

go leeward to the tor-lands

where the tin-veins maculate the fire-rocks.

David Jones notes

3 Leeward is to be pronounced lew-ard.

additional notes

a Ocrinum is the Roman name for The Lizard. Its geology is complex but does include some schists (a metamorphic rock with medium to large, flat, sheet-like grains).

comments

They fear being driven on to the rocks before they can round the promontory. The birds are an augury.

semantic structures

glossary