Gray Sails
Nora Hopper Chesson
1871 to 1906
(To John Lane)
What do you look for, 'twixt dusk and gloaming,
White sails going or gray sails homing?
Sunset turns white sails red in the bay,
Gloaming finds not the sails of gray.
Patched and rotten the gray sails were,
White sails gleam in the sunset air.
Under the white sails hearts are gay,
Sorrow sailed with the sails of gray.
Sorrow for pilot and skipper Sin —
What if the gray sails never came in.
Peril of ship and soul might be —
What if they sailed to a quiet sea?
Safe from danger of rock and blast —
Where sails of gray might be furled at last?
The red wind out of the East blows on
O'er white sails going and gray sails gone —
Somewhere or other the red wind sees
Quiet harbours where ride at ease
Ships that were stormbound far away,
Ships with white sails and ships with gray.
Hush your keen in the windy gloaming,
In that good harbour gray sails are homing.
Nora Hopper Chesson's Gray Sails
We are busy working to bring Nora Hopper Chesson's "Gray Sails" to life through our unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you soon.
At V2Melody, each arrangement is crafted with care through a thoughtful partnership of human artistry and technological innovation. This process involves:
- Deep analysis of the poem's rhythm, structure, and emotional essence
- Careful selection of musical styles that enhance the poem's unique voice
- Balancing traditional poetic expression with contemporary sound landscapes
- Multiple revisions to ensure the arrangement honors the poet's original vision
This creative journey takes time—each composition represents hours of dedicated work to create something that deepens our connection to Nora Hopper Chesson's words in meaningful ways.
While you wait for our complete interpretation, we invite you to explore other musical arrangements in our gallery or learn more about Nora Hopper Chesson's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Gray Sails" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.
Create a Cloze Exercise
Click the button below to print a cloze exercise of the poem critique. This exercise is designed for classroom use.