Whole Gulfs of Red, and Fleets of Red — Crusades

This poem describes a stage play about the Crusades. Dickinson viewed the nature of these religious wars a drama.

Whole Gulfs－of Red, and Fleets－of Red－¹
And Crews－of solid Blood－
Did place upon the West－Tonight－
As 'twere specific Ground－

And They－appointed Creatures－⁵
In Authorized Arrays－
Due－promptly－as a Drama－
That bows－and disappears－

(F.468/J.658)

[1] Gulfs of Red:: gulfs of the Red Sea. Fleets of Red:: the frantic Crusades.
[2] Crews, Blood:: the hot-tempered men.
[3] West:: a hint on the Crusades of the West. Tonight:: the night a play about the Crusades.
[4] specific Ground:: special purpose of the Crusades.
[5, 6] appointed, Authorized:: by the Roman Catholic.
[7, 8] a Drama, bows, disappears:: all in vain like a play.