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
The Destiny of Nations later expanded in his "Opus Maximum" project and was contained in other poems including "The Eolian Harp". Other connections to his works include the Greenland Wizard, which serves as a legendary precursor to Coleridge's mythical "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". The poem provides insight into what works Coleridge was relying on and would rely on again when he wrote "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner". He makes these works clear in his footnotes, such as one from Crantz's "History of Greenland" Vol. I. Other footnotes refer to Lemius's "De Lapponibus" and the Book of Revelation. Other sources are the works