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!
***********************************
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.
***********************************
