Doc's Prediction

Many long hours

did they float

   upon undulating waters,

to and fro

oscillating with the waves

 upon the sea

as they were heaved

further and further

from the scene 

where earlier that day

they gambled and lost

a battle, so now

sat all sorts

of sailors

slowly swirling

upon debris

truly an eerie sight to see.

Captain Richer of Oran

should have heeded the call

of Nick Curly Doc,

Seer from ancient Gaul,

but he had felt the man simply

to be “a strange gent”

so pushed on with these words,

“It’s vital men,
that we heave ho, set sail
to the day I’ve committed,
I’m anti to the score

as Nick has predicted
I’ll wage all that we have up against it

I’ll not heed this ancient dire etiquette,

It’s eruptive! Do cease all this running to Nick,
Quell the itch, and the swelling
Delve deeper, and if

below the rust, mold and the ink stains,
you reveal a truth that is quite plain
beyond on this dark speculation
then perhaps it may ring warm to my heart
and I’ll give consideration
to altering the date that we depart
with much gladness, for the morrow
following the one I have marked,

‘Til then know that all dire prediction
is to me like a de-tonic to the entire system,
and no matter how elephant enticing

it has been spun,
it more than slightly lacks the sound

of credibility rung

Not only that

it smells of old cheese
that needs more than a lemon

to make it palatable to please
even my first mate, Cal

who won’t uptake any of it
So, how can you expect me

to swallow even the slightest bit?

A syrup or honey, might
help a tickle or cough,

but nothing would sweeten

any part of this, so from hereon…


I’ll not be deterred by this gent’s
Yellow-bellied attitude,
You can call me coarse-ribbed

mad or rude,
Slight me to heat me to the color of  red, Nah!
It’s all the more likely that instead,
I’ll call you blue

either way we’ll push off,
through snow, rain or frost.

And So they departed

on that fateful day
still all fell victim

as predicted,

beginning with a gale
that suddenly erupted

The main mast tilted
while emitting low groans
and as it pushed over
there came different tones
somewhat like a sour scream
before the telling crack

in this nightmarish dream
that sent all to go running
as the ship sharply pitched
forward, then backward

the captain’s eye twitched

as his body was heaved
into a string puppet like dance
as he lost his sea legs

along with his balance.

All men on the main deck
were now called to arms
to pull up the ropes and
all of the chains
to right what they could
of these dire antics

from the storm that now raged
utterly manic.

The men frantically hoisted
up the foresail

to steer the ship’s bow
toward the oncoming gale
They pulled up the slack
within all of the frappings
to bind the ship’s planks
together quite tightly
along with a hope and a wish
and a prayer
that all would hold steady,
straight up, and secure.

The men who were caught
on the deck down below
worked hard with tight grips
upon the oars, so
their circular efforts

pulled with all their strength

would bring the ship to shore

length by length.

But alas, a freak wave

topping all of the rest

rose up like a dragon
and then it did crest
over and above them
to come crashing down

with a terrible force
that did pound
an exacting toll
most awful, and
most dreadful!

It set the ship rolling
to twist and to turn

all the while loosening
the ropes and the chains
Then came a creaking

a flexing of planks
weakening, causing leaking
so then the sailor’s hearts sank

along with their hope
for the accompanying screeches
signalled the integrity of the hull
had been breached, and
as all began to come flying apart

the captain shouted over the din,

“Abandon Ship!”

All sailors leaped over
erratically
to then come swimming back
for a bit of debris

to clamber upon

and to keep afloat

for fear of being lost
with nothing to grope

beneath these seething
frothing waves
to be lost forever
in a watery grave

Or perhaps if the tales
be true
to be gathered
within the arms
of a mermaid, too.

A splash of sea water
washed their faces
bringing them back

to the reality
of this place
where
for many long hours
they did float
hand in hand

upon their make-shift boats
facing each other

to keep up moral
and as they rode opposite
they talked ‘til nightfall
‘til one sighted a ship
by the light of its mast
which made all cheer then
for their rescue
at last!

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Within the writing of this poetry
are hints that act as memory hooks
to help one to recall

some of the properties

of a plant,

plus its uses and looks.

If you'd like to hear them

as I am often on the wing,

You may contact me through

this address ( lovellsimonsjanet_at_yahoo.ca)

then I'll give you a ring.

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