{"id":"01KG8AJFSE9ZE0XN0RRZ9EWD41","cid":"bafkreiblwja3dalmvuhxfz24trd2f2jigu57feggo3yrb4nde4na42kroe","type":"chapter","properties":{"description":"# CROSSING THE TROPICS\n## Overview\n\"CROSSING THE TROPICS\" is a poem by Herman Melville, extracted as a chapter from the text file [john_marr_and_other_poems.txt](arke:01KG89J19Y3FNVN5KWASY78BP4). It is part of the poetry collection [John Marr and Other Poems](arke:01KG8AJ5CWVMSM9AY2938E996H) within the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The poem appears between the poems \"TO NED\" and \"THE BERG\" in the collection.\n\n## Context\nThe poem was extracted from the plain text file [john_marr_and_other_poems.txt](arke:01KG89J19Y3FNVN5KWASY78BP4) by a structure extraction process. This file is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. \"CROSSING THE TROPICS\" is preceded by [TO NED](arke:01KG8AJFSEG96CKC4WD1QZN6Q8) and followed by [THE BERG](arke:01KG8AJFSHZD8QZPDZ81GDTSA1) within the poetry collection.\n\n## Contents\nThe poem \"CROSSING THE TROPICS\" reflects on themes of love, loss, and longing during a sea voyage. The speaker contrasts the changing celestial views as they cross the tropics with their personal feelings of separation from a loved one. References to the Southern Cross, trade winds, and Gama's (Vasco da Gama's) longing for land evoke a sense of maritime exploration and emotional yearning. The poem explores the speaker's desire to return to their love, even if it means facing harsh conditions.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:09.989Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"CROSSING THE TROPICS","end_line":1394,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:32.310Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"CROSSING THE TROPICS","source_file":"01KG89J19Y3FNVN5KWASY78BP4","start_line":1360,"text":"CROSSING THE TROPICS\r\n\r\n\r\n_From “The Saya-y-Manto.”_\r\n\r\n\r\nWhile now the Pole Star sinks from sight\r\n    The Southern Cross it climbs the sky;\r\nBut losing thee, my love, my light,\r\nO bride but for one bridal night,\r\n    The loss no rising joys supply.\r\n\r\nLove, love, the Trade Winds urge abaft,\r\nAnd thee, from thee, they steadfast waft.\r\n\r\nBy day the blue and silver sea\r\n    And chime of waters blandly fanned—\r\nNor these, nor Gama’s stars to me\r\nMay yield delight since still for thee\r\n    I long as Gama longed for land.\r\n\r\nI yearn, I yearn, reverting turn,\r\nMy heart it streams in wake astern\r\nWhen, cut by slanting sleet, we swoop\r\n    Where raves the world’s inverted year,\r\nIf roses all your porch shall loop,\r\nNot less your heart for me will droop\r\n    Doubling the world’s last outpost drear.\r\n\r\nO love, O love, these oceans vast:\r\nLove, love, it is as death were past!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"CROSSING THE TROPICS"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ5CWVMSM9AY2938E996H","peer_type":"poetry_collection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19Y3FNVN5KWASY78BP4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJFSEG96CKC4WD1QZN6Q8","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJFSHZD8QZPDZ81GDTSA1","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:33.166Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:10.189Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}