Merchant Ship

A swallow swoops for flitting flies
While Johnny rubs exhausted eyes
(As morning clasps the rising sun)
Confirming Captain’s day’s begun:
Slow streams emerge from melting snows -
The Merchant Ship’s in stark repose...

As Johnny frets with tingling tongue
A Vulture fleeces fields far-flung
 (Beneath a bleeding sun above),
And Captain culls the dead with love:
Yes, while the silent water flows,
The Merchant Ship just gulps and grows...

A serpent weaves amongst the weeds
As Johnny dares audacious deeds
(When evening drains the dying day)
To stop the Captain, come what may:
And while the raging rivers grow
The Merchant Ship rocks to and fro...

An owl, a’ branch, has teacup eyes
That glimmer dark as Johnny dies
(Now sown inside the future’s womb)
When flushing Captain to his doom:
Trapped in titanic undertow
The Merchant Ship’s swept down below...

A fledgling bird sprays morning dew
As Johnny Junior’s born anew
(He’s baptised in the dawn ablaze)
To rectify the former days: 
Raw rills arise from melting snow
And virgin rivers start to flow...

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 11/24/2012 2:12:00 PM
I love the meter, rhyme, and flow of this beautiful poem. Great job.
Login to Reply
Date: 8/28/2012 12:44:00 AM
awesome write ,, I was playing Captain Jack on board game about a week ago ;}
Login to Reply
Date: 8/26/2012 10:45:00 AM
Terry - another brilliant one. I loved reading the parentheses together, a poem within a poem. love, Kathy
Login to Reply
Date: 8/22/2012 4:01:00 PM
it really flows this poetry of yours... love it mate.... the styx triggered a memory with me so the words flow ...so i type on the puter...
Login to Reply
Date: 8/22/2012 7:12:00 AM
excellent tale, i really enjoyed this nice piece thank you for sharing
Login to Reply
Date: 8/21/2012 4:44:00 PM
Fantastic tale you have told here, Terry...the meter and rhythm flow with ease...Great job! - Tim
Login to Reply
Date: 8/21/2012 9:22:00 AM
Thank you Terry for this beautifully written story,I have enjoyed every word in it,and thank you for stopping by,Ivy
Login to Reply
Date: 8/19/2012 5:47:00 AM
A captivating ballad, Terry! The story and images flow perfectly with the rhythm here. Enthalled by this superior write. Best wishes, Mikki
Login to Reply
Date: 8/16/2012 4:46:00 PM
the rhythm and rhyme of this poem are so perfect it was an absolute pleasure to read! thank you for a brilliantly written tale!
Login to Reply
Date: 8/16/2012 7:13:00 AM
love the Title here also, Terry, as this wonderful poem, flows along with such rhythmic fervour,, those last two lines in the last stanza, to me are classics..
Login to Reply
Date: 8/16/2012 6:58:00 AM
Very captivating ballad.
Login to Reply
Date: 8/16/2012 6:24:00 AM
Terry, you have written a golden gem - very, very good poem - Thank you for sharing this. - oxox // Anne-Lise (+10)
Login to Reply
Date: 8/16/2012 5:27:00 AM
Where do you get it all from, I'll have a drop if whatever it is , another wonderful write dear boy xx
Login to Reply
Date: 8/16/2012 2:51:00 AM
Terry, I love this , but it's more like a ballad, still love it though...David
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad