Homework 7/9/15 - MEN OF THE SEA

[Maureen K Clifford]

MEN OF THE SEA … Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet

The waves were huge and he was bronzed and dead now in the water.
The breeze had dropped; likewise his sail and now he knew he oughta
get right quick on the blower and an SOS call send
before the open spaces claimed a prize from Neptune’s friend.

The yacht he held was priceless – master of its fate was he
and be damned if he would lose it to the vagaries of sea
and storm that was rampaging with a wild tempestuous throat,
he still had old dreams to follow and his fist in anger smote
on the wheel as she cavorted, riding high then plunging deep.
Ginger Crust could be flirtatious but ‘twas not the time to keep
quiet about their dire predicament, for help he must now call
before the Mermen claimed him, a thought that did not enthral.

He’d rigged lifelines and followed every safety rule by rote,
he knew each plank upon her hull – she was more than a boat,
she was the labour of his love – five years of toil and strain
and like a flower's rare perfume impossible to tame.

And then as if the Gods took pity on this sailor-man
a patch of blue appeared above, and sun, though pale and wan.
Enough blue sky to make a Dutchman a new pair of breeches
a sure sign that the seas would calm and stop beating the beaches.
And in his head the giggles bubbled – joyful was his mirth
he heard the wild music of the country of his birth
intermingled with pathos, though he was exceeding glad
that Ginger Crust had bought them through, ‘twas his last link with Dad.

[Catherine Lee]

These prompts are really throwing up some original ideas Maureen, that's for sure! Using Ginger Crust as the name of a boat was a brilliant idea, and this is a really enjoyable read.

[Shelley Hansen]

Wow! Very original Maureen - I must say these prompts didn't "prompt" me to think about the sea ... and yet you've just proved they work admirably!

Cheers, Shelley

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks Ladies - comes from having a son who is a boatbuilder - this is pretty much his story with a few changes from when he sailed his first boat Two Headed Love Child to Vanuatu after selling it to a bloke over there. He ran into a spot of bother on the trip.

[Neville Briggs]

A boat called Ginger Crust...that's cheating

Goodonya Maureen.

[David Campbell]

Clever, Maureen, although not sure that I'd be too keen to set sail on a boat called Ginger Crust...it doesn't sound very seaworthy!

A few little things to fix: "damned", not "dammed"; "flower's" not "flowers"; and "Gods" not "God's".

Cheers
David

[Neville Briggs]

Ha ha Maureen, you've been sprung.

[Maureen K Clifford]

so was the boat Neville Thanks David for picking them up for me - I will go and caulk the holes

[David Campbell]

Still a bit more caulking to do, Maureen...no apostrophe needed at all for "Gods". It's not possessive, just a plural.

Cheers
David

[Heather]

The 'postrophe police are out