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Bermudas by Andrew Marvell

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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A small boat of English settlers rows through the Atlantic, singing a hymn of gratitude to God for leading them to the Bermudas — a lush, safe island away from the troubles of home.

Core theme
Faith
The PoemFull text

Bermudas

Andrew Marvell

Where the remote Bermudas ride In th' Oceans bosome unespy'd, From a small Boat, that row'd along, The listning Winds receiv'd this Song. What should we do but sing his Praise That led us through the watry Maze, Unto an Isle so long unknown, And yet far kinder than our own? Where he the huge Sea-Monsters wracks, That lift the Deep upon their Backs. He lands us on a grassy Stage; Safe from the Storms, and Prelat's rage. He gave us this eternal Spring, Which here enamells every thing; And sends the Fowl's to us in care, On daily Visits through the Air. He hangs in shades the Orange bright, Like golden Lamps in a green Night. And does in the Pomgranates close, Jewels more rich than Ormus show's. He makes the Figs our mouths to meet; And throws the Melons at our feet. But Apples plants of such a price, No Tree could ever bear them twice. With Cedars, chosen by his hand, From Lebanon, he stores the Land. And makes the hollow Seas, that roar, Proclaime the Ambergris on shoar. He cast (of which we rather boast) The Gospels Pearl upon our Coast. And in these Rocks for us did frame A Temple, where to sound his Name. Oh let our Voice his Praise exalt, Till it arrive at Heavens Vault: Which thence (perhaps) rebounding, may Eccho beyond the Mexique Bay. Thus sung they, in the English boat, An holy and a chearful Note, And all the way, to guide their Chime, With falling Oars they kept the time.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A small boat of English settlers rows through the Atlantic, singing a hymn of gratitude to God for leading them to the Bermudas — a lush, safe island away from the troubles of home. Marvell depicts the island as a paradise filled with exotic fruits and natural beauty, all seen as a divine gift. The poem concludes by pulling back to reveal the singers from a distance: just a little boat, rowing in rhythm, their song echoing across the sea.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Where the remote Bermudas ride / In th' Oceans bosome unespy'd,

    Editor's note

    Marvell starts with a frame: we learn the origin of this song before actually hearing it. The Bermudas are depicted as concealed in the ocean's "bosome" — sheltered, secret, almost cradled. "Unespy'd" introduces the notion that this is a place the larger world hasn't seen, which adds to its sense of wonder and security.

  2. What should we do but sing his Praise / That led us through the watry Maze,

    Editor's note

    Now the song itself begins. The settlers pose a rhetorical question — what else *could* they do but praise God? The ocean is described as a "watry Maze," highlighting just how disorienting and perilous Atlantic crossings were in the 17th century. It’s God who guided them through it.

  3. Where he the huge Sea-Monsters wracks, / That lift the Deep upon their Backs.

    Editor's note

    God doesn't merely guide the settlers — he also helps them face the perils of the sea. "Sea-Monsters" is both literal (whales really were frightening for small-boat sailors) and biblical, reminiscent of the Leviathan from Job. The depiction of creatures lifting the depths on their backs conveys a sense of the ocean's wild, untamed power.

  4. He lands us on a grassy Stage; / Safe from the Storms, and Prelat's rage.

    Editor's note

    "Grassy Stage" has a nice double meaning: it refers to a theatrical stage (the island as the backdrop for their new life) and also to a grassy landing area. "Prelat's rage" brings a political edge to the poem—many of the English settlers in Bermuda were Puritan dissenters escaping persecution from Anglican bishops (prelates). The island offers refuge from both the harshness of nature and the grip of religious authority.

  5. He gave us this eternal Spring, / Which here enamells every thing;

    Editor's note

    The climate of Bermuda is often called "eternal Spring" — it doesn’t experience harsh winters or dying seasons. "Enamells" is a term used by painters: enamel refers to a bright, hard glaze. Marvell suggests that the island's colors are vivid and everlasting, as if God himself applied a glossy finish to the landscape.

  6. He hangs in shades the Orange bright, / Like golden Lamps in a green Night.

    Editor's note

    One of the most celebrated images in the poem is the sight of oranges glowing against dark leaves, likened to golden lamps illuminating a green night. This small, vivid detail transforms the tropical abundance into something magical, rather than just plentiful. The light-in-darkness imagery also hints at a subtle religious significance.

  7. And does in the Pomgranates close, / Jewels more rich than Ormus show's.

    Editor's note

    Pomegranate seeds are likened to jewels more valuable than those found at Hormuz (Ormus), the well-known Persian Gulf trading port famous for its gems and luxury items. Marvell suggests that God's natural gifts are far superior to anything that human trade can offer. This is not just a compliment to the island; it’s also a subtle jab at material wealth.

  8. He makes the Figs our mouths to meet; / And throws the Melons at our feet.

    Editor's note

    The fruit is almost self-serving—figs hang invitingly, while melons are playfully tossed at the settlers' feet. This reflects the essence of Eden: a natural abundance, where nature and humanity coexist peacefully. The whimsical image of God tossing melons adds a light-hearted touch, keeping the mood joyful instead of serious.

  9. But Apples plants of such a price, / No Tree could ever bear them twice.

    Editor's note

    The "Apples" mentioned here are likely pineapples, which were considered exotic and very expensive in 17th-century England. The phrase "no Tree could ever bear them twice" highlights the biology of the pineapple plant, as it usually produces just one fruit per plant. This also suggests the notion of a rare, once-in-a-lifetime gift.

  10. With Cedars, chosen by his hand, / From Lebanon, he stores the Land.

    Editor's note

    Cedars of Lebanon symbolize majesty and permanence in the Bible—Solomon used them to construct the Temple. By stating that God has filled Bermuda with these trees, Marvell elevates the island to a sacred level. The settlers find themselves not only in a pleasant location but also in a place rich with biblical meaning.

  11. And makes the hollow Seas, that roar, / Proclaime the Ambergris on shoar.

    Editor's note

    Ambergris — a waxy substance made by sperm whales and used in perfume — was extremely valuable. The roaring sea itself "proclaims" it washed ashore, almost as if the ocean is a herald announcing divine gifts. Even the noise of the sea seems to offer a kind of praise.

  12. He cast (of which we rather boast) / The Gospels Pearl upon our Coast.

    Editor's note

    This is what the settlers truly prize, and they're aware of it. The Gospel — the Christian message — is the "Pearl" they cherish above all the fruit and ambergris. "We rather boast" serves as a pointed remark: while those natural wonders are impressive, *this* is what they genuinely take pride in having brought along. It resonates with the biblical parable of the pearl of great price.

  13. And in these Rocks for us did frame / A Temple, where to sound his Name.

    Editor's note

    God has formed the rocky landscape into a natural temple. This directly opposes the "Prelat's rage" mentioned earlier — the settlers don't require a bishop's church; the island itself serves as their place of worship. It’s a subtly bold statement about religious freedom.

  14. Oh let our Voice his Praise exalt, / Till it arrive at Heavens Vault:

    Editor's note

    The hymn hits its emotional high point. The settlers hope their praise ascends to heaven's ceiling — "Vault" gives heaven a solid architectural feel, resembling a grand cathedral dome. The power of this imagery reflects the intensity of their faith.

  15. Which thence (perhaps) rebounding, may / Eccho beyond the Mexique Bay.

    Editor's note

    The song reverberates through heaven and spreads out across the Gulf of Mexico — the entire New World transforms into a resonating chamber for their praise. The word "Perhaps" adds a touch of human uncertainty to an otherwise assured hymn, making the aspiration feel sincere instead of arrogant.

  16. Thus sung they, in the English boat, / An holy and a chearful Note,

    Editor's note

    Marvell returns to the scene he set up at the beginning. We see the singers from a distance once more: just people in a boat, their song characterized as both holy *and* cheerful—a mix that holds significance. This isn't somber Puritan piety; it's joyful faith. The term "English" subtly brings to mind the exile these settlers have left behind.

  17. And all the way, to guide their Chime, / With falling Oars they kept the time.

    Editor's note

    The poem concludes with a vivid, earthy image: the oars striking the water maintain the song's rhythm. Music and work merge seamlessly. The term "falling" lends the oars a soft, almost melodic quality. After all the splendor of paradise and the heavenly sky, we return to the straightforward sound of people rowing and singing in unison.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is joyful and devout, yet never feels weighty. Marvell maintains a light touch with vivid, almost playful imagery — like God tossing melons or oranges shining like lamps — making the religious fervor feel warm instead of stern. There’s also a subtle undercurrent of relief: these individuals have escaped something, and the gratitude expressed in the song is genuine. The framing device (we hear the song from outside, then return to the boat at the end) lends the poem a gentle, slightly nostalgic quality, as if Marvell himself is observing from afar and finds it touching.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The Boat
The small rowing boat symbolizes the settlers' vulnerability and faith. It's a tiny vessel in a vast ocean, highlighting just how profound their trust in God's guidance is. In the end, the boat brings the poem back to physical reality after all the grand imagery of paradise.
Exotic Fruit (oranges, pomegranates, figs, melons, pineapples)
The abundance of tropical fruit suggests that Bermuda is a new Eden—a paradise given to them by God. Each fruit is seen as a thoughtful gift rather than just something that grows, highlighting that the settlers are uniquely chosen and looked after.
The Temple in the Rocks
A natural formation that settlers interpreted as a divinely created place of worship. It sharply contrasts with the institutional church and its bishops they left behind in England, representing a more direct and personal relationship with God.
The Gospel's Pearl
Drawn from the biblical parable of the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46), this symbol emphasizes that the Christian faith is more valuable than any material wealth the island offers. It's the one thing the settlers brought *with* them, not something they discovered upon arrival, and they cherish it above all else.
The Falling Oars
The oars keeping time with the song in the final lines blend physical labor and spiritual praise. They imply that worship isn't distinct from daily work — both rhythms share the same beat.
Heaven's Vault
Heaven is envisioned as a vast, arched ceiling resembling a cathedral dome, capable of sending sound back to earth. This portrayal gives the divine a sense of architectural solidity and proximity, while also implying that the settlers' praise is bold enough to reach it.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Andrew Marvell wrote "Bermudas" around 1653, likely while staying with Puritan John Oxenbridge, who had emigrated to Bermuda twice to escape persecution from Archbishop Laud's Church of England. The poem captures the genuine experiences of English Puritan dissenters who settled in Bermuda starting in the 1630s, all in search of religious freedom. Marvell wrote during the Interregnum — the time between Charles I's execution in 1649 and the monarchy's Restoration in 1660 — when issues of religious liberty and political exile were at the forefront. Bermuda was seen in England as a strange, almost mythical place, partly due to the shipwreck that inspired Shakespeare's *The Tempest*. Marvell taps into that mythology to explore themes of faith, providence, and what it means to find a home in a land that rejected you.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

It's a hymn that English Puritan settlers sing while rowing through the Bermudas, expressing gratitude to God for leading them to a safe, beautiful island away from the religious persecution they faced back home. Marvell introduces and concludes the song, allowing us to hear the settlers singing and then observe them from the outside, their oars synchronized in rhythm.

Adjacent texts in the archive