Hark

Hark

The captain spoke to the sick and starving
As he bobbled on the bow
And began
We will go there
Pointing his crooked finger as his dark, salty body dropped 
But with each upsurge he made another point
You are here because you got lost
I'm here to take you home
Down surge
I'm not sure we will make it
Upsurge
But you have strong oars made of Spanish mahogany one at a time
Down surge
Some of you are weaker and will think of dying
Upsurge
Others will pick you up because you are worthy of love
Down surge
Your stomachs are full of toxic blubber meat
Upsurge
You will endure for the purpose of Her
hug at port, wet and tired and lost
Down surge
You will not endure if you are proud
Upsurge
Down surge
And just his eyes. 
Only sounds of orphaned oars and flapping sails and rusty rudders. 

Two whales appear, each pick a side. 
Guiding, with twin wakes, and moving the boys toward there
Upsurge
Down surge
The whales were moving them there. 
Screaming to their distant loved ones
I'll be home soon

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Lee Etheridge

Date: 3/26/2023 10:23:00 PM

One thought I had here was how nature (the whales) takes care of us even while they sacrifice and “scream” (like whales almost like they are explaining taking care of us). I love that they forgive us and would help us like this.

Reason A. Poteet

Date: 8/5/2022 6:26:00 AM

Cooper, this one reminds me of a bible passage where travelers on ship to Rome took Paul to trial before Caesar Nero. He promised they would crash if they stayed in the boat but without loss of life. Leery sailors were secretly making a lifeboat, ready to go overboard in the storm. Whales would have gotten them had Paul not stopped them. Your delightful piece registers with me, believer that God will deliver in trying times. Love the Up surge, Down surge lines. Powerful! along with the title.

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 7/23/2022 2:18:00 PM

I enjoyed reading your "Hark." What a story/write. Have a blessed day................

Lee Etheridge
Date: 7/24/2022 12:10:00 AM

Thanks, Paula.

Chinedum Ekwobi

Date: 7/23/2022 6:10:00 AM

Hark is a wonderfully wrought poem about A Captain Pessimistic Optimist or maybe Optimistic Pessimist on voyagers' survival chances. Really, The Poem's long lines alternating with short ones neatly deliver the two possibilities of Life or Death.

Lee Etheridge
Date: 7/24/2022 12:11:00 AM

Great help and read. Yes I felt like that. Gone and here again.