To a Lone Sailor

Gold cherry
Poem of the week
Pick of the Month

By Kilb50

Fri, 22 Jan 2021
  • 8316 reads
28 comments
 

I split the plastic bag

and poured her into the sea.

A dazzling white cloud dissolved

into a final farewell.

 

We toasted her with whisky then,

recalled those times she plotted

her own wayward course, steered

the most southerly route.

 

She took her men part way –

dumped them in foreign ports.

Good-for-nothings I always said.

They tried to claim her as their own.

 

Yet every sailor knows the drill,

pulls hard on the kicking strap and jib.

Those unbearably lonely midnight hours  -

solemn walks along deck, prow to stern.

 

And while nothing prepares us

for the wildest storm - scurvy, hunger, regret –

there was always a double ration and a hearty façade.

Nothing went over the side.

 

Glistening clouds brightened her mornings.

Warm, pure currents twisted and turned.

Schools of porpoise danced in chopped-up seas,

soaring beyond the limits of her wildest ocean dreams.

 

So hold anchor in those sun-kissed groves.

May the beaches you are swept upon

sing sweet mysteries. May the azure

blue lagoons of your afterlife glisten.

 

The sea’s spirit guides us all

towards the raising of a glass and a song.

Farewell, dear sailor - sail now,

sail steady, sail always, sail true.

Certificate 15
Poem
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Ewan on

just beautiful.

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Many thanks Ewan. This was inspired by this weeks IP but, technically challenged as ever, I haven't been able to categorise it as such. All the best.

 

Submitted by Ewan on

the liberty of doing it for you, hope you don't mind.

I've read this five times already.

 

Ewan

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

That's great, thanks.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Beautiful indeed.  I may have something in my eye.  

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Thanks as always airy. Best wishes to you.

 

Submitted by socialeaf on

Beautiful poetry.

 

Submitted by forest_for_ever on

'May the beaches you are swept on sing sweet mysteries...' oh boy! what wonderful poetry.  For me personally a great poem brings me back again and again.  I see something new every time I read it.  Your poem takes me into a wonderful dreamworld. Absolutely brilliant!

 

Submitted by marandina on

Stunning poem.

 

Submitted by celticman on

sea spirit guides us all, not all, but you, certainly. 

 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Many thanks for reading & your comments socialeaf, forest, marandina & celtic - appreciated!

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

That opening really got to me, as did the whole of it. Wonderful.

Rich

 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Thanks Hudson & best wishes to you

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This wonderful piece is our Poem of the Week - congratulations! It's also our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day. Please share/retweet if you enjoyed it as much as I did

Picture Credit:https: //tinyurl.com/y6c676cj

 

Submitted by sean mcnulty on

Love this poem. Sent my imagination sailing.
Well-deserved accolades.

 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Thanks Sean & all the best.

 

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on

A great poem! As I read it, salty water dribbled from my lips and I felt the wind tease my being. Well done.   

Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Many thanks Richard. Best wishes to you & your family.

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

There are no spare words or images here. This is crisp and clean and not a word is superfluous. I was easily swept into the comparison of sea to life, but then I do love Nature, and it does command our world. The fragility and strength woven through the descriptive life, hit a corresponding chord, we are all charting those stormy, choppy seas hoping there are azure blue lagoons glistening in the afterlife…You’ve written a brilliant poem and your use of nature could rival Frost.

Penny4athought

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Many thanks for reading & your comments Penny. I haven't read Frost for a long while. Once I've finished my current poetry book (Louise Gluck's Collected Poems - highly recommended) I'll have to re acquaint myself with Frost's work. Best wishes to you.

 

Submitted by forest_for_ever on

Congratulations on Poem of the Week.  This wonderful piece of work is so re-readable and deserves classic status.

 

 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Many thanks for reading & your comment forest - appreciated!

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Poem of the Month - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by Ross_Lowe on

Gosh, that's beautiful. There's a strange beauty that comes with loss, in that so many memories resurface with such clarity. Beautifully expressed. Thank you for sharing.

 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Thanks for reading & comments Ross. And I really enjoyed your story Take it Back. Looking forward to the sequel - Farg goes on a Dolomite road trip !? All the best to you.

 

Submitted by Ross_Lowe on

Now there's an idea! TIB II: The Wrath of Farg... wink

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

I've so enjoyed reading this and kept thinking about it throughout the day. Amazing and well deserved pick of the month. 

 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Many thanks for reading & your comments Jane. Hope you are keeping well & best wishes to you.