Albatross (metaphor) Albatross (metaphor) The word albatross is sometimes used metaphorically to mean a psychological burden that feels like a curse. It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798). In the poem, an albatross starts to follow a ship — being followed by an albatross was generally considered a sign of good luck. However, the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow, which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship (which indeed suffers terrible mishaps). Even when they are too thirsty to speak, the ship's crew let the mariner know
Christabel (poem) becomes enchanted with Geraldine, ordering a grand procession to announce her rescue. The unfinished poem ends here. It is unclear when Coleridge began writing the poem which would become "Christabel". Presumably, he prepared it beginning in 1797. During this time, he had been working on several poems for "Lyrical Ballads", a book on which he collaborated with William Wordsworth. "Christabel" was not complete in time for the book's 1798 publication, though it did include "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner". The first part of the poem was likely completed that year, however. He continued to work on Part II of