The Shrine ("She Watches Over the Sea") is a strong poem about someone overseeing parts of the ocean from danger. In the urban Greek Myth, Sirens were rulers of the sea and the one motivate in life was to lure sailors with their perfect pitch sounds out into the depths of the sea to murder them.
In Greek Mythology one of the most recognizable sirens is Amphitrite. In this poem, Dolittle is telling a story about Amphirite and how she protects her home by giving us a whirlwind of imagery to back up her story.
In the first stanza, it recites,
"Are your rocks shelter for ships--have you sent galleys from your beach,are you graded--a safe crescent--where the tide lifts them back to port--are you full and sweet,tempting the quietto depart in their trading ships?"let's break this stanza down.
Line one: The rocks were a siren sits to guide the sailors into the depths of the sea.
Line four: The high tides that come at dawn to wash away all the evidence of a siren murdering the sailor.
Line five: they are one of the most beautiful creatures with venomous tendencies, they may look sweet but looks can be deceiving.
Line six: quiet: luring in the weakest of men.
This stanza defines two aspects of cultural context lifestyle and value. Lifestyle because is how the character lived their life and value because this is what the author thought was important in the goddess's life. More relevant than important. Social Culture ties into this stanza by this author giving us insight into the social setting - how Amphitrite 'socializes'.