Drawing also upon my own past as a fisherman, combining marine and also "fishy" parts, in light of tensions between differing camps, historical elements of those, along with some allusion to scripture too, etc., as those came to mind, I made attempt to work those varied things into a [possibly cheesy?] poem.
Why I did so, I don't rightly know (other than brain exercise, image combination and flows, and so on) for poetry writing has not been much of an interest to me --- and reading others stuff (so-called poetry) even less, for the most part.
So you can scroll past this, it's ok. all is forgiven beforehand. For setting, some scripture passages, first;
- Psalm 107 (Authorized KJV)
23 They that go down to the sea in ships,
that do business in great waters;
24 these see the works of the Lord,
and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind,
which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven,
they go down again to the depths:
their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
and are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,
and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Matthew 23
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that
was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat
down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
tentative titles
Song of the Sea Beggars or
Ode to (Pacific Coast, dover) Soul Fishing
Of those things said of sailors
uncalled be they not late for -
dinner payday speaking bold
why then refugee called "pirate" --
smuggle Christmas?
he was ordered and told !
Fortress to fo'c'sle,
'Cross port rang call
The Master has spoken;
Beggars need not to plunder
the Mary's Rose, for they be ours...
This fleet that treasure, the builder layed keels
to bear in holds 'neath hatch covers
...is it there?
be sure, hulls all well settled
for at the dawn, all wills sail
You there! cried chief bos'n Friend
John, sailor clear that raffle
mind straight that line of coil, this voyage
...tattered pennants cut plunge away, overboard
On floodmost tide, ship's bones, be borne, and be gone...
from this
Stand ready, watch
look listen hear that Wind?
that whispered voice
shouts as ancient storm, yet on, brings
high heaving rollers from distant
land, calls strangers, Home.
Too late now... are you seasick?
Yeah, there's a touch of that goin' 'round
[smiles] I know what you mean
but ease that sheet there would you
please now, now snub it, and that daydream
steady, brace feet square
these airs that here be rising dig
toes into deckboards, this brig
be...out, offshore's bound
...waking mid-ocean,
"how'd we get here, where we going?"
a sleepy lad asks,
but who's time to tell him, all sent
here regardless, must drink deep of the flasks
'bout little ships set floating, set off from the shore
on an Ocean Master's
plans, aims, and bidding,
an ocean's harvest for Him to store
...cabin-steward, the helm it's your turn,
winds tho' now be light,
can surprise sudden churn
surely you know?
That star, steer there that's the One
don't let 'er be fallin' off now...
whether buried lee rail, or no
the grounds' not your home
boy, shut that whine
We'll be there before All Who Knows it
sorts the good fish
from the dogsharks, skate rays
starfish, and the slime
BlueDragon, Nov. 22, 2013