JOHN Masefield (appointed Poet Laureate in 1930) managed to pen these most atmospheric of seaboard inventories without the use of a principal clause!
The cargo of the humble British coaster is almost as exotic as the others now.
CARGOES
Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,
With a cargo of ivory,
And apes and peacocks,
Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.
Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus,
Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores,
With a cargo of diamonds,
Emeralds, amethysts,
Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.
Dirty British coaster with salt-caked smoke stack
Butting through the Channel in the mad March days
With cargo of Tyne coal,
Road-rail, pig-lead,
Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.
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