Tom Cunningham Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

Image owned by juliangrant.com.

Distant Shores

Atlantic storms had taken the main mast
For seven weeks we drifted helplessly
Fresh water and food were running out fast
There was talk below deck of mutiny.

Hunger, boredom and thirst were taking grip
As a boy I saw the dark side of men
To keep order the captain used the whip
I feared we would never see home again.

A sailor on watch shouted "land ahoy"
The wind picked up and drifted us along
Crew were happy and were now full of joy
Some sang the shanty, the wanderer's song.

Captain Smith cried out "it is the Azores"
The beautiful sight of its distant shores.


Written on 19th June 2018

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Valsa George May 16, 2023 at 9:27 AM This experience sounds so real. The frustration and resultant mutiny among the sailors who drifted aimlessly without enough food or water could be so intense. Thank God they finally landed ashore. .Beautifully composed, dear Tom Tom Cunningham May 16, 2023 at 10:20 AM Thank you very much Valsa, men certainly show their dark side when everything is up against them. I'm happy that you enjoyed it. Tom

Line Gauthier January 20, 2021 at 5:22 PM So glad this poem was published in the 2020 PS Anthology ~ it gets better with every read. Tom Cunningham January 21, 2021 at 1:02 AM Thank you very much for your return visit Line, I love stories about the sea. Tom

John Gondolf December 2, 2020 at 5:33 PM Tom, i enjoyed reading this sonnet again in the anthology, congrats on having it selected. John Tom Cunningham December 2, 2020 at 11:56 PM Thank you very much John, it is a great honour to be included in the anthology, and congrats to you too John, ive ordered a copy as well. Tom

Panagiota Romios July 22, 2020 at 2:45 PM Whoa~ this seems to have Been written way before I ever came here, Tom. It's dramatic, moving and of course deserved a win. Thanks for sharing this with me. Panagiota 7/22/2020 Tom Cunningham July 22, 2020 at 2:56 PM Thank you Panagiota, not bad for a simple poet lol. It is my favourite though, love maritime stories. Tom

Sam Kauffman March 11, 2020 at 5:00 PM Really, really nice Tom. You so masterfully contrasted despair and hope! And depicted human behavior. Congratulations on your win. Well deserved. Over Fork Over! Tom Cunningham March 11, 2020 at 5:40 PM Thank you Sam, I'm happy you liked it. Tom Greatingsd from Glencarn Castle

Juliet Ligon March 12, 2019 at 2:57 PM Nice descriptions. I feel like I'm right there in the ship. Congrats! Tom Cunningham March 12, 2019 at 3:33 PM Thanks very much Juliet, happy you liked it. Tom.

P.S. Awtry March 4, 2019 at 10:06 PM Congratulations! Enjoyed this tale told as a sonnet. Well done :) Tom Cunningham March 4, 2019 at 11:38 PM Thank you very much P.S. Happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Wendy Watson March 3, 2019 at 2:38 PM This is a really interesting and enjoyable write,Tom. Congratulations on making the top ten. Tom Cunningham March 3, 2019 at 2:47 PM Thank you very much Wendy, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Craig Cornish March 3, 2019 at 12:35 PM A captivating write Tom--we wrote inspired by a similar muse! Congrats on your placement. Tom Cunningham March 3, 2019 at 12:58 PM Thank you Craig, yes our muses were in maritime mode. Enjoyed your verse. Another I wrote was the Edmund Fitzgerald that perished on the great lakes, the seas and oceans fascinate me. Tom

Mark Toney March 3, 2019 at 12:26 PM Tom, you made us experience the fear and dire straits of the captain and his crew, and their relief at its resolution. And your photo is spot on. Congratulations on your win on Mile 21 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon Contest! Thank you so much for supporting my contests. By continuing to place in the contests you are accumulating points toward the final. ~Mark Tom Cunningham March 3, 2019 at 12:43 PM Thank you very much Mark, it is my favourite sonnet, after I wrote it I came across that picture and it was just what I was looking for. Thank you for hosting. Tom.

Jennifer Proxenos October 24, 2018 at 8:43 AM What a lovely poem Tom In fact all your poems are lovely. Really enjoy them. Best regards, Jennifer Tom Cunningham October 24, 2018 at 8:51 AM Thank you Jennifer, much appreciated. Tom

Line Gauthier August 15, 2018 at 9:23 AM Love this poem, Tom. Tom Cunningham August 16, 2018 at 1:26 AM Thank you Line, It is my favourite sonnet. Tom

Eve Roper July 13, 2018 at 5:45 PM Congratulations on your awesome win. So beautifully written.... Hugs Eve Tom Cunningham July 13, 2018 at 6:00 PM Thank you Eve, I love tales of the sea especially the old sailing ships. Tom

Susan Ashley July 11, 2018 at 8:11 PM Returning with warm congratulations Tom, on your wonderful win with your stirring and graceful sonnet.. Warmest wishes always my friend.. ~Susan Tom Cunningham July 12, 2018 at 3:08 AM Thank you very much Susan, I haven't been doing this form long but to date this is my favourite sonnet. Tom

Gershon Wolf July 9, 2018 at 4:33 PM Congratulations on collecting so many honors for this wonderful, historical write. Best always, Tom ~ Gershon Tom Cunningham July 9, 2018 at 4:59 PM Thank you again Gershon, much appreciated. Tom

Casarah Nance July 9, 2018 at 7:19 AM I could feel the waves on the side of the boat as I read your words, what a great story teller you are that I could see this perfectly as I read. Well done! Tom Cunningham July 9, 2018 at 8:42 AM Thank you very much Casarah, happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Susan Gentry July 8, 2018 at 7:18 PM Back to congratulate you again on your win again! Well done! Tom Cunningham July 9, 2018 at 1:09 AM Thank you again Susan, must admit I do like this one and thought I'd give it another go. Never wrote a sonnet until I joined soup, always thought a poem was a rhyme until I joined soup, my eyes have been opened. Tom.

John Hamilton July 8, 2018 at 12:45 PM Wonderful sonnet Tom, congrats on a fine placement! Tom Cunningham July 8, 2018 at 2:18 PM Thank you very much John. Thanks for hosting. Tom.

CayCay Godwin July 7, 2018 at 12:53 AM This is impressive in content and delivery, it reads smoothly to easily, completely capture the reader. All the best ... CayCay Tom Cunningham July 7, 2018 at 3:56 AM Thank you for your good wishes CayCay, happy you enjoyed it Tom

Sylvia Coulstock June 29, 2018 at 7:24 AM I am transported by your words and the imagery you use.Congratulations Tom on this worthy piece for POTD. Tom Cunningham June 29, 2018 at 7:39 AM Thank you very much Sylvia. Glad you liked it. Tom

Silviu Craciunas June 29, 2018 at 1:57 AM http://poesis.unaux.com/ A new literary magazine awaits you! The Poesis Literary Magazine seeks poetry for the 2018 first issue. Poesis - http://poesis.unaux.com/ - is an independent, international, free-access literary journal. We are an online journal, exclusively. We accept texts that have already been published, but please specify where they were first published. We publish quarterly, and we accept submissions year-round. We attempt to respond to submissions within twelve weeks. Good luck!

Besma Riabi Dziri June 27, 2018 at 9:54 AM Congratulations on your POTD Tom, though belated! A wonderful Sonnet of struggle, hope and survival enfolded in a gripping imagery and well crafted wording! A great pleasure to read. Thank you for sharing. Stay blessed. Tom Cunningham June 27, 2018 at 12:02 PM Thank you very much for your kind words Besma. Tom.

Susan Gentry June 26, 2018 at 9:07 AM I swear I congratulated you on this before but it's not here. Anyway, I'm back to congratulate you for your latest top win. Well done! :) Tom Cunningham June 26, 2018 at 11:23 AM Thank you very much Susan, I know the software plays up because I entered it originally into Roberts contest and it disappeared so I took a chance with Brian's. Tom

Shirley Rebstock June 26, 2018 at 8:59 AM I love story poems. Enjoyed. Tom Cunningham June 26, 2018 at 11:21 AM Thank you very much Shirley, happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Gershon Wolf June 25, 2018 at 7:03 PM How is it that I had not responded to this wonderful poem? It's so fitting both for "Distant Shores" AND for the POTD. Kudos to you, Tom! ~ gershon Tom Cunningham June 25, 2018 at 8:42 PM Thank you Gershon, no worries, I do find the turnover of poems on here a but to quick sometimes and loads seem to slip through the net.Im away at the moment so logging on when I can but having soup withdrawal symptoms.Not everywhere has Wi-Fi Tom

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