John Masefield's famous poem 'Cargoes' serves as inspiration for this short art trail around Mermaids Quay in Cardiff, Wales. Twenty-One sculptures are located around Bute street and Stuart street, perched high above the businesses, restaurants and shops. Metal-work artist Brian Fell created the sculptures on the trail, inspired by Masefield's poem.
Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir,
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,
With a cargo of ivory,
And apes and peacocks,
Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.
Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus,
Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores,
With a cargo of diamonds,
Emeralds, amythysts,
Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.
Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack,
Butting through the Channel in the mad March days,
With a cargo of Tyne coal,
Road-rails, pig-lead,
Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.
Cargoes (1903), John Masefield
Cardiff was once one of the largest ports in the World and the works feature the cargoes depicted in the poem which would have passed through the port ranging from exotic animals and birds to precious gems and minerals.