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Out of Time - Contest

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"Come at once, we have struck a berg, it's a CQD old man." - Jack Phillips, Wireless Operator

“The darkness grew apace; a cold wind began to blow in freshening gusts from the east, and the showering white flakes in the air increased in number. From the edge of the sea came a ripple and whisper.” - H.G. Wells, The Time Machine

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A Sam Scott poem:
14th April 1912
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Listen to poem:

I set the date Hope I am not late To save some souls From chilly fate The year of our Lord Dial one nine, one two From my home-based lab After locking in-situ A gyro spins A crackle, a flash I land on the deck With a terrible crash Oh souls that surround me Running here and around Never notice my vehicle Though designed to astound The floor is now jaunty My breath like fresh mist The critical moment I fear I have missed Make fast to the lifeboats Although they are few I frantically seek out The captain and crew "You can double the numbers.." I cry with a shout It's too late for they're pushing The final boat out I reach for my notepad Complete these last lines 'Crisp bright morning air Yet the darkest of times' A note to myself Set my machine now to 'home' So she whirrs and she crackles Takes instructions, alone My vain hope is she Meets me in an earlier state An inventor incumbent To change the course of this fate Now my destiny sealed By dark ice of the sea As resigned I join singing; Nearer My God to Thee Fast forward to now Deep-sea divers explore The old shipwreck is claimed By the ocean once more Yet a mystery beckons Cameras peer through the grime Uncatalogued cargo Out of luck, out of time

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Tom Woody

Date: 1/16/2024 7:02:00 PM

Awesome contender Sam. Thanks for your support for the contest

Sam Scott
Date: 1/16/2024 9:16:00 PM

Great Contest. Loved your rule-free approach! Looking forward to another.. some great entries. Thanks Tom.

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 1/16/2024 5:48:00 AM

So amazingly creative, inventive, inviting. Just love this. Should have won the top spot. love it. God bless you, love, Gina

Sam Scott
Date: 1/16/2024 6:08:00 AM

That is so lovely of you to say, Gina x but alas the captain must go down with his ship.. (glad you liked it) ;)

Sara Kendrick

Date: 1/15/2024 1:15:00 PM

Nice futuristic tale told in poetic form. Creative of you to think of adding a time machine to the mix. Reads like a good contender to me. Way to go. Thanks for your visits to my page. Sara K

Sam Scott
Date: 1/15/2024 1:56:00 PM

Thanks Sara, I love it when we can inspire each other with our different poetry :)

Ink Empress

Date: 1/15/2024 11:51:00 AM

Very unique and well written entry for this contest. I guess everyone gets inspired by titanic. While the tragedy was so haunting: the recent one of the submarine that went down to see titanic was even as bad. Truly. I dunno why i thought of that when i read this: maybe because of your lines “ Deep-sea divers explore The old shipwreck is claimed By the ocean once more” your poem i think is thr kind tom woody likes: so best wishes, and pleasure reading your work.

Sam Scott
Date: 1/15/2024 12:40:00 PM

A slight departure for me in one sense, but I could not miss the opportunity to merge two realities; fictional classic from HG Wells and the (as you say) emotive tragedy of the 'unsinkable ship' (to paraphrase captain Smith). Pleasure reading your comments, Ink! It is going to a fascinating selection of entries - Tom picked a belter. Bless you :)

Sara Etgen-Baker

Date: 1/12/2024 4:34:00 PM

I appreciate how you told your story--a captivating mysterious tale full of detail and intrigue and perhaps some time travel hoping to stop the course of fate. Excellent. Enjoyed it. Have a splendid weekend. Sara

Sam Scott
Date: 1/12/2024 6:35:00 PM

This was a tonne of fun, so whatever the result, I followed Tom's brief. Two of my favourite subjects meld into one.. you are right, Sara, more story than poetry :)) Thanks for pulling up a deckchair x

Sam Scott

Date: 1/11/2024 9:57:00 PM

CQD - "Seeking you. Distress!" (In case you were wondering) Introduced by Marconi, manufacturers of the ships radio systems of the day, later replaced with the now more recognizable "SOS" - https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/titanic-marconi-and-wireless-telegraph