Of Men and Ships

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[This poem was written in the early 1960s while I was a student at the University of Charleston, West Virginia. It was published in Hoosier Challenger and, later, in Poetry Prevue. I included it in my first poetry chapbook, The Lady in the Pink Hat, Candor Press, 1969.]

Of men and ships that plow the seas And leave a vanished furrow In unmarked depths of ocean field Where a million sees lie fallow. Men who cast with roughened hands Hopes upon the silken crests And visions to the salty breeze Ships that touch the foreign shore And paint the harbor frieze.

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Regina Mcintosh

Date: 5/8/2021 8:16:00 AM

Wonderful. God bless you always, Love, Gina

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/9/2021 8:05:00 AM

Thanks so much for your encouraging comment, Gina.

Christuraj Alex

Date: 5/3/2021 10:20:00 AM

Beautiful!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/9/2021 8:05:00 AM

Thanks, Christuraj.

Joe Dimino

Date: 4/30/2021 5:04:00 PM

Great writing my friend! Excellent!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/30/2021 6:26:00 PM

Thanks, Joe. I appreciate your thoughts.

John Fleming

Date: 4/25/2021 8:49:00 AM

Enjoyed this little offering of yours, L.M.H...has a real flavour to it. All the best! :) john

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/25/2021 10:33:00 AM

Thanks, John. Please call me "Milt." This little poem has been around a long time and made the rounds. I'm glad you liked it.

Poet Tellaferro

Date: 4/24/2021 7:18:00 PM

Love this imagery...oh and thanks for your comment!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/24/2021 7:27:00 PM

Thanks, Jehiel. Oh, my comment came straight from the heart and merited by your fine poem.

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 4/23/2021 2:00:00 PM

Oh that alluring call of the sea, really like the line 'ships that touch the foreign shore' - glad you are letting us sample some of your earlier works!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/23/2021 2:07:00 PM

Thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful remarks. I am enjoying looking over some of my older writes, too. Thought this would be a good place to stash them for the future.