Old Friends

They laugh and chat throughout each day and night -
much reminiscing, future jaunts to plan,
and what they'd do to put the planet right.
Yes, they will travel - surely they still can!

Adventures many years ago at sea,
relived, exaggerated, lied about...
Oh, what it was back then, so young and free,
to know you'd make it back, without a doubt.

Then tearful, sober thoughts of wrecks they'd seen:
their friends reduced to driftwood on the shore -
but they have memories of who they'd been,
recall their greatness, though they are no more.

A pair of boats, oblivion awaits;
yet, as they rot, they dream of better fates...

For Sara's Choices sonnet contest, inspired by Picture 1 Old Friends
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Coffelt Avatar
July 13, 2020 at 9:31 PM
Enjoyed respectfully from one to another
De Beaulieu Avatar
June 9, 2019 at 4:56 PM
Hello Jack Horne, so nice to meet you. There is nothing like old friends to spend your time with. have a nice evening my friend.
Devonshire Avatar
June 1, 2019 at 2:24 PM
Jack, great use of personification in this sonnet. When I first started reading it, I thought you were writing about two old tars. A creative take on the photo! Best wishes in Sara's contest. Love, Carolyn
La France Avatar
May 20, 2019 at 9:44 AM
Jack, this is outstanding, full of emotion and dreaming of when things were better. A FAV for me !
Proxenos Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 2:01 PM
A rather sad but true fact of life - younger no one gets, our time passes through an hourglass, reminiscing reminds one of youth and of good times had, not realising that now today, although they wish it, their dreams are: (as per your last two lines! Great poem my friend, Hugs, Jenny.
Dietrich Avatar
May 13, 2019 at 3:13 PM
Wonderfully done, Jack, how you brought the picture to life with your words. I am drawn to that third picture! Have yet to write it. Thanks for seeing my poetry recently.
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
May 13, 2019 at 1:00 PM
The passage of time for one to ponder, nicely rendered, my best wishes indeed Jack, Aloha wk
Onclaud Avatar
May 12, 2019 at 3:36 PM
so touching, it nourished my heart, jack... what a remarkable story... be proud!...huggs
Callus Avatar
May 12, 2019 at 3:15 PM
An enjoyable striking picture of two old mariners, reliving their past; the final metaphor is aptly fitting.Regards // paul
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