Question

By Victoria Mary Sackville-West:

When little lights in little ports come out,
Quivering down through water with the stars,
And all the fishing fleet of slender spars
Range at their moorings, veer with tide about;
When race of wind is stilled and sails are furled,
And underneath our single riding-light
The curve of black-ribbed deck gleams palely white,
And slumbrous waters pool a slumbrous world;
Then, and then only, have I thought how sweet
Old age might sink upon a windy youth,
Quiet beneath the riding-light of truth,
Weathered through storms, and gracious in retreat.

Which of the following is true of the text in bold?

a. It explicitly describes part of a ship.
b. It explicitly describes the glow of the sun.
c. It implies that darkness is coming.
d. It implies that someone has told a lie.

Answer 1

The poem by Victoria Mary Sackville-West uses 'riding-light' to explicitly describe part of a ship. It symbolizes guidance or truth in old age.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the poem by Victoria Mary Sackville-West, the phrase 'Underneath our single riding-light' in the context provided explicitly describes part of a ship.

A riding-light, also known as an anchor light, is a light displayed by ships at anchor.

The poem describes a serene maritime scene and employs this image to create a metaphor for old age being peaceful after the storms of youth.

The riding-light symbolizes the guiding light or truth that may come with old age.