Why does the poet call the gull 'a sentry nobody has posted'?

Low Tide

The sea has pulled its blanket back
and left the beach in rows of ribs,
the sand all sewn with silver tracks
where small things scuttled, small things slid.

A gull stands guard on one bent leg,
a sentry nobody has posted.
The boats lie tilted in the mud
like tired dogs that have forgotten
what they came to guard.

Out beyond the rippled flats
the water gathers its slow strength,
and I, who love the empty shore,
am glad to know that it will come.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. It guards the beach although nobody has told it to.

  1. Step 1: A sentry is a guard placed on duty. Step 2. 'Nobody has posted' means no one gave the order. Answer: It guards the beach although nobody has told it to. Why not the others: It has been sent by the harbour master.: 'Nobody has posted' means it has no orders. It is afraid of the boats that are lying tilted in the mud.: The gull's fear is not mentioned. It is asleep on the rocks and cannot be disturbed by anyone.: A sentry stands watch; it is not sleeping.

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