An Anthology of Czechoslovak Literature/The Spectral Ship

JIŘÍ KARÁSEK ZE LVOVIC

(b. 1871)

The Spectral Ship

IN unknown oceans of regions unknown
Upon dead waters deep stillnesses weigh.
In a livid heaven the moon’s array
Is lustreless, hueless, silent and lone.

A mighty vessel with sails all grown
Blackened with age, has ceased to sway
Upon the dead waters. Now dawns its decay.
Long, long has it been here, silent and lone.

In the cabin a stifled gasp of dismay.
Over the deck dim shadows tread.
The ship is utterly spectral and dread.

A funereal lantern, the moon’s array,
Chalkily shines on the greenish faces
Of mariners lured into unknown places.
Walled-up Windows (1894)

This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content.

Original:

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1930.

The longest-living author of this work died in 1951, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 73 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse

Translation:

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1930.

The longest-living author of this work died in 1970, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 54 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse