The Torch
ON my northwest coast in the midst of the night, a fishermen’s group stands watching; Out on the lake, that expands before them, others are spearing salmon; The canoe, a dim shadowy thing, moves across the black water, Bearing a Torch a-blaze at the prow.
free verse
serene
The Torch - meaning Summary
Nightwork and Guiding Light
The short lyric shows a nocturnal scene of fishermen on a northwest shore watching others spearing salmon from a canoe. The dim craft crosses black water with a blazing torch at its prow, providing light and direction for communal labor. The poem compresses a single moment into an emblem of guidance, collective effort, and the practical intimacy between people and the natural, watery landscape.
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