The complete online text of John Marr and Other Poems by Herman Melville.

Herman Melville drew upon his adventurous travels on sea and land for the primary materials of his greatest fiction and poetry. Out of his experiences in the merchant service (1839), the whaling industry (1841- 1843), and the United States Navy (1843-184...

Herman Melville, who died almost forgotten although he had once been a popular author and had left behind ten notable books of prose fiction and four of verse, has gathered increasing fame, especially for his metaphysical whaling novel, Moby-Dick (1851)....

Herman Melville, who died almost forgotten although he had once been a popular author and had left behind ten notable books of prose fiction and four of verse, has gathered increasing fame, especially for his metaphysical whaling novel, Moby-Dick. Like m...

From John Marr and Other Sailors Bridegroom Dick (1876) SUNNING ourselves in October on a day Balmy as spring, though the year was in decay, I lading my pipe, she stirring her tea, My old woman she says to me, "Feel ye, old...

Near the end of Billy Bud& Sailor, the narrator describes the concluding poem "Billy in the Darbies" as a "rude utterance from another foretopman, one of [Billy's] own watch, gifted, as some sailors are, with an artless poetic temperament." (1) He continues, "The...