Shipping Lines

[James E Probetts]

Shipping lines
(After seeing a postcard of a Union Castle liner
I once sailed in to South Africa. Circa 1948)

Pulling the covers of the past
Round my neck,
Warming the bones so to speak
That sepia postcard
That grainy grey image of her
Carving the stars southwards
Lumped me in reverie
Put a swell under my feet
Threw wisps of spume
Against the flaking paint of memory
Plunged me in a shudder of screws
Bucking into Biscay,
Rolled me in softness
Of nights at St Helena
Dawns pinking the Cape
It washed me over
Like a dumped dhobi bucket
Till all I could feel
Were rivulets of rust
Salting my cheeks.

John C Ryan

[Doc Vernon]

Shipping lines
(After seeing a postcard of a Union Castle liner
I once sailed in to South Africa. Circa 1948)

Pulling the covers of the past
Round my neck,
Warming the bones so to speak
That sepia postcard
That grainy grey image of her
Carving the stars southwards
Lumped me in reverie
Put a swell under my feet
Threw wisps of spume
Against the flaking paint of memory
Plunged me in a shudder of screws
Bucking into Biscay,
Rolled me in softness
Of nights at St Helena
Dawns pinking the Cape
It washed me over
Like a dumped dhobi bucket
Till all I could feel
Were rivulets of rust
Salting my cheeks.

John C Ryan

Hi James,
That was really nice mate,and also brings back those memories of all the times i spent with the UCL.
Thanks for that,i really enjoyed it!
Cheers
Vernon

[Reg Kear]

Thanks James, and thanks to John C Ryan, this excerpt is classic:

Plunged me in a shudder of screws
Bucking into Biscay,
Rolled me in softness
Of nights at St Helena
Dawns pinking the Cape
It washed me over
Like a dumped dhobi bucket