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John Marr and Other Poems
John Marr and Other Poems

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of John Marr and Other Poems is here in full — 424 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for John Marr and Other Poems
Context Illustration Reading 3/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!
I yearn as ye.
But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?
Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!
And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

John Marr and Other Poems

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of John Marr and Other Poems is here in full — 424 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 3/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 11–15

Line 1
Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!
Line 2
I yearn as ye.
/aɪ jɜːrn æz jiː/
Line 3
But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?
/bʌt ræfts ðæt streɪn ˈpɑːrtɪd ʃæl ðeɪ lɑːk əˈɡen/
Line 4
Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!
Line 5
And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

enfold verb US /ɪnˈfoʊld/

enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering

From this reading “Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!”

entwined verb US /enˈtwaɪnd/

past form of “entwine” — tie or link together

From this reading “Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!”

rafts noun US /ræfts/

a large number or amount

From this reading “But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?”

riven verb US /ˈrɪvən/

inflected form of “rive” — tear or be torn violently

From this reading “Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!”

surge verb US /sɜːrdʒ/

rise and move, as in waves or billows

From this reading “And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?”

tides noun US /taɪdz/

plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading “Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!”

Twined verb US /twaɪnd/

past form of “twine” — spin, wind, or twist together

From this reading “Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!”

yearn verb US /jɜːrn/

desire strongly or persistently

From this reading “I yearn as ye.”

All words in this reading · 65

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?

AlienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/

not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I yearn as ye.

ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/

towards the shore from the water

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

creeknounUS /kriːk/

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

drivenadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪvən/

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

embracements

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

enfoldverbUS /ɪnˈfoʊld/

enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

enterverbUS /ˈentər/

to come or go into

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

entwinedverbUS /enˈtwaɪnd/

past form of “entwine” — tie or link together

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

EveradverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

facesnounUS /ˈfeɪsəz/

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

flingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/

-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

gulf-weed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

how

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I yearn as ye.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

LikeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

lockverbUS /lɑːk/

fasten with a lock

From this reading But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?

LodgedverbUS /lɑːdʒd/

past form of “lodge” — be a lodger; stay temporarily

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

myriads

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

PartedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːrtɪd/

having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes

From this reading But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?

raftsnounUS /ræfts/

a large number or amount

From this reading But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?

rivenverbUS /ˈrɪvən/

inflected form of “rive” — tear or be torn violently

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

seasnounUS /siːz/

plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?

shiftverbUS /ʃɪft/

make a shift in or exchange of

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

ShiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/

continuously varying

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

strainnounUS /streɪn/

(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

From this reading But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?

streamnounUS /striːm/

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

surgeverbUS /sɜːrdʒ/

rise and move, as in waves or billows

From this reading And how if one here shift no more, Lodged by the flinging surge ashore?

SwimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/

the act of swimming

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But rafts that strain, Parted, shall they lock again?

tidesnounUS /taɪdz/

plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

ToparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/

plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

TwinedverbUS /twaɪnd/

past form of “twine” — spin, wind, or twist together

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Twined we were, entwined, then riven, Ever to new embracements driven, Shifting gulf-weed of the main!

YepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading Like tides that enter creek or stream, Ye come, ye visit me, or seem Swimming out from seas of faces, Alien myriads memory traces, To enfold me in a dream!

yearnverbUS /jɜːrn/

desire strongly or persistently

From this reading I yearn as ye.

Chapter 1 of John Marr and Other Poems by Herman Melville holds 424 sentences, grouped into 85 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of John Marr and Other Poems contain?

Chapter 1 holds 424 sentences of John Marr and Other Poems, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of John Marr and Other Poems by Herman Melville exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 424 sentences, grouped into 85 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of John Marr and Other Poems?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading John Marr and Other Poems

Common questions about reading John Marr and Other Poems by Herman Melville on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of John Marr and Other Poems?

Yes. All 824 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12841 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of John Marr and Other Poems is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #12841, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does John Marr and Other Poems take to read?

About 68 minutes of reading across 165 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read John Marr and Other Poems section by section

How to work through John Marr and Other Poems section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of John Marr and Other Poems to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in John Marr and Other Poems

Words and structures a reader meets early in John Marr and Other Poems, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Introductory
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Marr and Other Poems; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Henry
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Marr and Other Poems; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Marr and Other Poems; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Melville
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Marr and Other Poems; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.