My small contribution to Merchant Navy Day

[John Gill]

Voyage of a ancient mariner
Freshly hatched stepping aboard, seabag to hand ship life to explore. Learning ropes, obeying commands, with friendly advice from learned old hands.With Blue Peter aloft 'let go for 'ard let go aft.' Slipping through locks --catch that tide!
Then on to the river free and proud.
.A glance astern, a thought of home then for 'ard!
we've seas to roam. Past ships with stacks of every hue, funnels blue funnels green, some of fat and some of lean. Skin boats sugar boats Palm boats too. Outward bound sea legs found
Ocean's moods forever changing, from blue serene to shipping 'em green.
Then at last the cry goes out.' Land ahoy'
'Where away?' 'Dead ahead sir' the lookouts say.
Landfall comes with different scents, of spices sights and tongues that speak 'you buy sailor very cheap'! Leaving broken hearts in every port
And little gifts as we depart!
Loading done 'all ashore' we've seven wonders to explore. Sailing in Magellans wake the world was there for us to take. A weariness of sun and sea of lands seen many times, a longing for the kin at home, time to make ones mind. Stepping ashore,wandering done- blessed family seldom seen now part of life not just a dream. Now landsmen speak with tongues their own, no yarns to spin I dream alone. Weary now I see again those ships that I once knew with funnels green and funnels blue. So raise me up that I might see them going down the line, those that carried me afar to wondrous lands. Reaching
From the mighty river to the waiting sea- then gone. So say it! Tell it! Let it live!
Tell the tales that ought be told before they fade as we grow old.
Gilly

[Keith at Tregenna]

Respect from myself.

Regards,

Keith.

[Phillip Burness]

Voyage of a ancient mariner

. So say it! Tell it! Let it live!
Tell the tales that ought be told before they fade as we grow old.
Gilly

Very poetic brings back similar thoughts of my sailing days in my youth