Dark passage

[Ian Adrian Millar]

DARK PASSAGE

We'd been at sea for fifteen days.
And tired and weary were we.
It was on the crest, and in the trough,
Not very much to see.

The sea rose high, the snow came down,
Our rails encased in ice.
The howling of the tempest,
Caused concern among the mice.

The clouds loomed low upon the sea,
With Greybeards clearly seen.
The Mate called out all hands aloft,
All the while we're shipping green.

Hustle boys to mind the sails,
We're off the rocks of Baccalieu.
And the gale is not abating,
On the yards mind what you do.

The sea ran wild with a wicked wail,
But we kept her off the shore.
No one was hurt by the crashing sea,
Though frozen to the core.

The morning came to lift our hearts,
Replacing fear with sunshine bright.
Everyone, ship's cat and all,
Had survived that stormy night.

Ian Adrian Millar

[Keith at Tregenna]

Appreciated:

Keith.


Added:

Found an early attempt of mine, over 10 years ago:

Posting now but it is in it's rawest form, hopefully a little humerous and was a work in motion, attempting to become a poem.

This Island race. (A Remembrance)

Without our age old mariners, “Brittania” – could not be saved,
no early fleet, for Roman’s to defeat or ward off men depraved.
But, early man the hunter, had gathered far from home,
River’s deep were conquered, there was a sea to roam.

Romano – Brits and pagans saw King Arthur and the rest,
Kick: start an early navy that would become the best.
They carried Celtic fighters, around our coast by sea.
Earliest, forms of transport ships to see off enemy.

Prince Madoc ventured oceans, through tempest, wind and gales,
re-discovered the America’s, but failed to claim for Wales.
Some say they were the first to go, but hunter gatherers went,
Early- man, then native’s before the “Mayflower” was ever sent.

But with no flag to claim new land, they had not been invented,
or scribe to write, all down and prove, the indigenous claim was dented.
Back to home and history, merchants came and went,
Threat’s from those that wanted our land, came with bad intent.

Longboats and the Vikings had come in days of old,
unsavoury, barbaric raiders would pillage, seeking gold.
Both the Normans and the Saxon’s day tripped to our coast,
reconnaissance for later, they came for Sunday Roast.

Leaving a country speaking Latin, Roman’s left for home,
without her depleted army, there was no defence for Rome.
Our fellow Anglo-Saxons, cousins from over channel,
Saw Robin Hood, do much good but, but were keener on a tunnel.

Looking back to mother tongue, ended speaking more “Germanic”.
until our friends and neighbours – France, started getting manic.
One in the Eye for Harold, back in sixty-six, a “World Cup” plan,
Saw “Franglaise” as main speak, an illegitimate ruler, would become the man.

But, by this time, our Isle had, had enough and wanted no more invaders,
after all a stolen land, by those that come before, they wanted only traders.
So when El Spain, laid her claim and started building Armadas,
Good Queen Bess, full with quests, wanted no more dramas.

So she called on Drake, bowls to forsake, to master up a plan,
now we speak Queens- Anglaise, we cannot change again.
Keep your Esparanto, English will now remain,
We will holiday, cheap by package, but invasion would be a pain.

Just to end my story, others tried again, those that may do us harm,
would not find all not the same, a navy borne of piracy were not as full of charm,
I left till now and from our past, sailors with no grave, many stay with Davey,
the only one finale, our marvelous men of the British Merchant Navy.

KG.

As said very raw, but never did complete.

.