Anne-Lise Andresen | + Follow Poet |
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- The Killick Holds -

  The calendar showed January 1899,
  there were only a few hours of real daylight
  He set out in his poor man's boat, early dawn
  Snow and ice did not melt until mid-May
  The cold bit his face and hands,
  he had to try to obtain some food on the table
  All they had was flatbread, 
  oats and water porridge

  A sudden storm forced him to seek shelter
  He had to be master of his own destiny
  Strong east wind
  prevented him from going ashore
  The best possibility was to anchor
  in a cove sheltered from the wind
  Grandfather's killick saved him 
  from drowning that day

Copyright © Anne-Lise Andresen | Year Posted 2025

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Reason A. Poteet Date: 8/21/2025 5:50:00 AM Anne-Lise, the pic adds so much to understanding your piece. Great story clearly delineating what a killick is; only limited by the host's stanza requirement. I'm sure you have more details that could have been added. Thanks for telling your story well. Login to Reply

David Crandall Date: 8/9/2025 9:18:00 AM Great story - in some times and places, day to day life, and just obtaining food involved heroics! Login to Reply

Evelyn Judy Buehler Date: 8/8/2025 8:40:00 PM Your story is grpping, Anne-Lise. I'm glad it had a happy outcome. Fascinating! :) Login to Reply

Michelle Mac Donald Date: 8/8/2025 12:37:00 PM An intriguing story. Feels sadly hopeless, however the ending gives it bright, airy windows and a safe door out. Enjoyed this write ! Thank you for sharing, Anne-Lise! Login to Reply

Kim Rodrigues Date: 8/8/2025 11:28:00 AM Enjoyed! …All they had was flatbread, oats and water porridge…The killick was the anchor in the storm. Login to Reply

Joe Dimino Date: 8/8/2025 8:25:00 AM Lots of knowledge came before us, those great anchors of old worth holding on to, and often revisiting. Brilliant story. Love it! My Great grandfather, captain of a sail ship went down with his ship in a storm. Login to Reply

Frederic Parker Date: 8/8/2025 5:11:00 AM You painted life, dear poet, and its struggles, especially with the sea, glad he made it, or you might not be here today creating poetry...Frederic Login to Reply Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 8/8/2025 5:18:00 AM - Not my life ... I wasn't born in 1899, Frederic :))) - Thank you very much for your comment :) - hugs

Sotto Poet Date: 8/8/2025 3:55:00 AM Gorgeous and intriguing, Anne-Lise, you have vividly depicted this historical event. I could sense the frigid gusts of wind, the impending threat of the tempest, and the silent fortitude required for perseverance. Login to Reply Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 8/8/2025 5:20:00 AM - At that time it was their everyday life ... on life and death - Thank you very much for your comment, Las :) - hugs

Arthur Vaso Date: 8/8/2025 1:43:00 AM beautiful, but now I a curious, did he make it? :) Login to Reply Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 8/8/2025 1:58:00 AM - "Grandfather's killick saved him from drowning that day" yes, he survived... but didn't catch any fish, Arthur :) - hugs

Rowena Velasco Date: 8/7/2025 6:57:00 PM Vivid and atmospheric, Anne-Lise—you’ve brought this moment in time to life so clearly. I could feel the icy wind, the danger of the storm, and the quiet resilience of survival. Login to Reply Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 8/8/2025 2:01:00 AM - That's how they lived at that time in Norway ... many ended their lives at sea to provide food for their families ... it was a tough time along the coast, Rowena - hugs

Sara Etgen-Baker Date: 8/7/2025 5:08:00 PM thanks for sharing this story via your poem. It was engaging and encouraging...great contest entry, wishing you a great evening, hugs. Sara Login to Reply Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 8/8/2025 2:04:00 AM - Poverty drove them out to sea in all kinds of weather... the luckiest came home... but many drowned, Sara - hugs

Connie Pachecho Date: 8/7/2025 2:58:00 PM Anne-Lise, I would guess Norway. Ja? Login to Reply Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 8/8/2025 1:56:00 AM - A story from Norwegian conditions from that time, they were poor and depended on getting fish from the sea - Fish and potatoes were the most important food source, Connie :) - hugs