The mariner survives, but is left with the occaisional compulsion to pull aside certain people -- perhaps people who seem to share the cavalier attitude that led him to shoot down the bird and doom his shipmates -- and repeat the story of his misfortune.
1) Write a poem or short story in the narrative voice of someone who feels guilty for something they did a long time ago. Who do they choose to confess to? Does the confession alleviate their guilt?
2) You can read a copy of the poem by clicking here. When you're done, consider writing a narration, either poetry or prose, of those same events as seen from the perspective of one of the other sailors. You can mimic Coleridge's style or adopt a modern tone. Or write a series of haiku.
Nor any drop to drink.
