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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 Date: 5/16/2023 9:27:00 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 Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 5/16/2023 10:20:00 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 Date: 1/20/2021 5:22:00 PM So glad this poem was published in the 2020 PS Anthology ~ it gets better with every read. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 1/21/2021 1:02:00 AM Thank you very much for your return visit Line, I love stories about the sea. Tom

John Gondolf Date: 12/2/2020 5:33:00 PM Tom, i enjoyed reading this sonnet again in the anthology, congrats on having it selected. John Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 12/2/2020 11:56:00 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 Date: 7/22/2020 2:45:00 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 Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/22/2020 2:56:00 PM Thank you Panagiota, not bad for a simple poet lol. It is my favourite though, love maritime stories. Tom

Sam Kauffman Date: 3/11/2020 5:00:00 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! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 3/11/2020 5:40:00 PM Thank you Sam, I'm happy you liked it. Tom Greatingsd from Glencarn Castle

Juliet Ligon Date: 3/12/2019 2:57:00 PM Nice descriptions. I feel like I'm right there in the ship. Congrats! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 3/12/2019 3:33:00 PM Thanks very much Juliet, happy you liked it. Tom.

P.S. Awtry Date: 3/4/2019 10:06:00 PM Congratulations! Enjoyed this tale told as a sonnet. Well done :) Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 3/4/2019 11:38:00 PM Thank you very much P.S. Happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Wendy Watson Date: 3/3/2019 2:38:00 PM This is a really interesting and enjoyable write,Tom. Congratulations on making the top ten. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 3/3/2019 2:47:00 PM Thank you very much Wendy, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Craig Cornish Date: 3/3/2019 12:35:00 PM A captivating write Tom--we wrote inspired by a similar muse! Congrats on your placement. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 3/3/2019 12:58:00 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 Date: 3/3/2019 12:26:00 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 Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 3/3/2019 12:43:00 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 Date: 10/24/2018 8:43:00 AM What a lovely poem Tom In fact all your poems are lovely. Really enjoy them. Best regards, Jennifer Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 10/24/2018 8:51:00 AM Thank you Jennifer, much appreciated. Tom

Line Gauthier Date: 8/15/2018 9:23:00 AM Love this poem, Tom. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 8/16/2018 1:26:00 AM Thank you Line, It is my favourite sonnet. Tom

Eve Roper Date: 7/13/2018 5:45:00 PM Congratulations on your awesome win. So beautifully written.... Hugs Eve Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/13/2018 6:00:00 PM Thank you Eve, I love tales of the sea especially the old sailing ships. Tom

Susan Ashley Date: 7/11/2018 8:11:00 PM Returning with warm congratulations Tom, on your wonderful win with your stirring and graceful sonnet.. Warmest wishes always my friend.. ~Susan Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/12/2018 3:08:00 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 Date: 7/9/2018 4:33:00 PM Congratulations on collecting so many honors for this wonderful, historical write. Best always, Tom ~ Gershon Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/9/2018 4:59:00 PM Thank you again Gershon, much appreciated. Tom

Casarah Nance Date: 7/9/2018 7:19:00 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! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/9/2018 8:42:00 AM Thank you very much Casarah, happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Susan Gentry Date: 7/8/2018 7:18:00 PM Back to congratulate you again on your win again! Well done! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/9/2018 1:09:00 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 Date: 7/8/2018 12:45:00 PM Wonderful sonnet Tom, congrats on a fine placement! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/8/2018 2:18:00 PM Thank you very much John. Thanks for hosting. Tom.

CayCay Jennings Date: 7/7/2018 12:53:00 AM This is impressive in content and delivery, it reads smoothly to easily, completely capture the reader. All the best ... CayCay Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/7/2018 3:56:00 AM Thank you for your good wishes CayCay, happy you enjoyed it Tom

Sylvia Coulstock Date: 6/29/2018 7:24:00 AM I am transported by your words and the imagery you use.Congratulations Tom on this worthy piece for POTD. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 6/29/2018 7:39:00 AM Thank you very much Sylvia. Glad you liked it. Tom

Silviu Craciunas Date: 6/29/2018 1:57:00 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! Login to Reply

Besma Riabi Dziri Date: 6/27/2018 9:54:00 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. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 6/27/2018 12:02:00 PM Thank you very much for your kind words Besma. Tom.

Susan Gentry Date: 6/26/2018 9:07:00 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! :) Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 6/26/2018 11:23:00 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 Date: 6/26/2018 8:59:00 AM I love story poems. Enjoyed. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 6/26/2018 11:21:00 AM Thank you very much Shirley, happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Gershon Wolf Date: 6/25/2018 7:03:00 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 Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 6/25/2018 8:42:00 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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