Ditty bag

[Ian Adrian Millar]

DITTY BAG

I found an ancient ditty bag,
In a corner of a drawer.
Containing time worn artifacts,
Of peacetime and of war.

There was a weathered salty cap,
It's badge long turning green.
And a pack of smokes unopened still,
From a port he may have been.

A rigging knife with knotted line,
Then a needle and a palm.
A Testament with pages worn,
Read in tempest or in calm.

A photo of my mom and dad,
So tattered and well worn.
Love letters tied up with a bow,
Sent home from old Cape Horn.

Three medals that he rarely wore,
Won for service out at sea.
All these treasures from his life,
Now passed along to me.

Ian Adrian Millar

[Keith at Tregenna]

A poetry fan, so much can be said that means much,
in words penned, cannot than you enough.

Keith.

[Ian Adrian Millar]

Thank you for your comments, always welcome, the appreciation means a lot.

Ian

[Fouro]

#1.The wording of this poem causes one to create a mental picture of true facts which must have been experienced by thousands of people throughout the country. Well done Ian, I enjoyed reading the true wording of your poem immensely.

Regards from
Fouro.

[j.sabourn]

I am not an avid poem fan, but the couple of lines in John Masefield “ Dirty British Trampship with a smoke stained smokestack ploughing up the channel in the mad March days “ , has always stuck in my mind over the years , and towards the end .... “ if you have you won’t doubt my story, the story I’m trying to tell , of men who leave love, home and comfort, for a glorified bleeding hell.” Most seamen can identify with this , as is most in all of their lifestyle. JS
PS even though the original wording Is Dirty British Coaster .JS

[Fouro]

Thinking of Thee.

Fair thee well, the ship is ready,
And the breeze is fresh and steady,
Hands are fast the anchor weighing,
High in the air the streamer's playing,
Spread the sails, the waves are swelling,
Proudly round thy buoyant dwelling,
Fair thee well and when you're at sea,
We at home will be thinking of Thee.

Regards from
Fouro.

[Brenda Shackleton]

My Dad ( Capt W.J. Hartley D.S.C. ) rescued the entire crew of the Norwegian Tanker, 'SOUTH AMERICA' on April 6th 1944. I was in contact for many years with a Radio Officer, Bob Cobb, until his death a couple of years ago . 90 something.
i made a recording of his rescue. " Whilst aboard the GOODWIN, we were given a little ditty bag with soap, flannel, razor etc. donated by Morrisburg Collegiate Institute, Ontario, via the Navy League of Canada for people who had survived an enemy attack. "1944 BOB COBB AGED 18.jpg1944 bob cobb south america.jpg1944 GOODWIN A.jpg1944 D APRIL SOUTH AMERICAScan_0091.jpg
Brenda