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A modern rendition of Joaquin Miller's "Columbus"
In Joaquin Miller’s poem “Columbus,” he beautifully explores the perseverance of Columbus and his men during the tiresome expedition that led to the discovery of the Americas.
In each stanza, Columbus is offered a temptation to turn the ship around, and this option becomes more and more justifiable as the poem progresses; however, no matter how dreary the outlook, Columbus’s response remains the same at the end of each stanza: “Sail on!” The poem ends with light piercing through the darkness, rewarding Columbus for his faith and determination. Without these qualities, the landscape of the world we live in today would be much different. In the piece below, I provide a twist on Miller’s beloved poem, emphasizing the dangers of our modern habits and what they rob us of. It seems that through these habits, we have lost the very thing that Columbus discovered.
If you have not read Miller’s poem, this piece will not have its full effect, and even if you have read “Columbus,” taking the time to reread it would prove beneficial.
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Behind him lay the long day’s work,
Behind him the Gates of toil and hurt;
Before him not a written scroll,
Before him only endless scrolls.
The Lowly State said: “Now work is through,
And lo! the very brain is done.
So think; what is it we shall do?”
“Why, of course, scroll on! scroll on! and on!”
“My mind grows slower; I can feel it brew.
My mind grows ghastly wan and weak.”
He thought of Home beyond the blue,
The one that’s built for mild and meak,
And Purpose asked, “What shall you do
To strengthen both brain and brawn?”
“Why here is what we shall do:
Scroll on! scroll on! scroll on! and on!”
He scrolled and scrolled, as time did show,
Until his Reason finally said:
“Why, now not even God would know
If you were alive, or if you were dead.
Your very mind forgets its due,
For God, from these dead scrolls, is gone.
Awake, dear man, you know what you should do.”
He said: “Scroll on! scroll on! and on!”
He scrolled. He scrolled. Then Reason spoke again:
“The Devil shows his teeth tonight;
He licks his lips as you stew in sin,
For you boil hotter with every swipe:
Dear man, rid yourself of all this grief;
Hope is drifting and nearly gone!”
But he croaked, infected by disease:
“Scroll on! scroll on! scroll on! and on!”
Then pale and worn, he wept; he wept,
For darkness pounced and it was night.
Darkest night with no hope left,
But burning still was artificial light.
It burned and burned as darkness swirled.
It burned until the break of dawn.
He lost the world; he lost the world,
Choosing a death he destined: “On. scroll on.”