Question

Dread the bell in the fog outside’
Why would a bell be rung when it was foggy?
What might happen to a ship if they did not hear the fog bell?
Which coast is referred to here in this poem?

Answer 1

A bell is rung on ships on foggy nights, to announce its presence to other sailing vessels nearby, and thereby avoid collision. If the sounding of a fog bell is not heard by another vessel, there is a likely chance of both vessels colliding with each other.

The coast of Maine in US, is referred to in this poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 – 1950). She was an American playwright and poet who won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1923.