Line 78: “Cordage”- According to the OED refers to “cords or ropes collectivelyor in the mass, esp. the ropes in the rigging of a ship”. Due to Crane’s fascination with sailor, readers may imply that the allure of the ship is certainly expressed in the nautical imagery Crane propogates.
Line 73: “Deity”- the role of the deity is Atlantis is related to the “Intrinsic Myth” which provides the construct for the movement in imagination. According to critics, “it is the ‘intrinsic Myth’ of the Bridge that connects the poet with “Deity’s young name.’ Thus the poet moves toward the Bridge, the imagination’s ‘steeled cognizance,’ by experiencing and assimilating earlier definitions” (Sugg 9).
Line 74: “Canticle”- According to the OED is “a song, properly a little song; a hymn”. This is congruent witht the common theme of music expressed throughout the entire poem.
Line 85: “Anemone”- This sea creature evokes the essence of the underwater realm of Atlantis, while the Bridge also acts as an anemone that provides answers. “The bridge was addressed as a sea creature ‘Anemone’. Here the poet invokes floating form, now called Atlantis to sustain his faith”. In an alternative position, “the antiphonal whispers through the cables of the disembodied bridge-anemone, had answered the prayer and held the floating singer late'” (Tratchenberg 126).
Line 92: “Sidereal phalanxes”- According to the OED, sidereal means “of or pertaining to the stars,” and phalanxes means “a line or array of battle”. In this line Crane is creating a celestial themed image of glorious Greek battles, as phalanxes is also noted in the OED to originally be rooted in Ancient Greek history.
Swift peal…
…azure swing.