A pearl-foam at his feet <br /> The waters leap and fall; <br />The sentry treads his beat <br /> Upon the sun-girt wall. <br /> <br />Bronzed of visage, he, <br /> Stern, resolute as fate, <br />Guard of the inner sea- <br /> Grim Watcher of the Gate. <br /> <br />Born of some mighty throe <br /> From earth’s sbysmal deep, <br />When, aeons, long ago, <br /> The Dragon stirred in sleep. <br /> <br />Yet over him, merrily, <br /> The winds blow East, blow West; <br />The gulls about him fly, <br /> The fog-king wreaths his crest. <br /> <br />All day, sea-melodies <br /> Blend with oarsmen’s stroke, <br />In the Fleet of the Butterflies, <br /> The craft of the fisher-folk. <br /> <br />Then boom of the sunset gun, <br /> The flash of the beacon-light, <br />Leaping, a warning sun, <br /> To passing ships of night, <br /> <br />And the fleets of all the world <br /> Salute him as they pass- <br />Viking of Seas empearled, <br /> The Warrior, Alcatraz. <br /> <br /> <br />* The Island Fort of San Fracisco Bay<br /><br />Ina D. Coolbrith<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/alcatraz/
