Sea Shanty

The sea gathered her voice
on the crest of the waves
as dark clouds were herded
by the wind as he raved
in a symphony orchestrated
through elements of sound
composed by the air
from his drafty compound.

By the drum of the surf
on the beat of the waves
a crescendo that climbed
with the sea as she raged
while the wind as the maestro
pulled pockets of sound
from the whistles and moans
as he swept ‘cross the ground.

Soprano! cried the killdeer 
Tenor! screeched the gulls
as a baritone foghorn
boomed from the hull
of a ship that swayed
drunkenly atop of the surf
staying clear of the breakers
that crashed on the turf

The ship creaked a response
as it groaned a refrain
but the deft hand of a shipwright
would keep it sustained
for he’d hewn and he’d whittled
great emblems of love
carving an angel for the figurehead
and atop the masthead, a dove.

When the wind stopped his jostling
and the sea spent her ire
the ship slipped back to its haven
of warm hearths and bright fires
where the men mused and wondered
over great tankards of ale
if the hymns and  hosannas..
had been but, the wind in the sails?
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Grahamburglar Avatar
May 22, 2016 at 7:58 PM
This is awesome and I love how the meter sort of swells and ebbs like waves. You are beyond talented. Another easy 7 from me. =D -G
Duncan Avatar
February 23, 2015 at 12:45 AM
I love this :) TKs for reading Angel Hearts :)
Austin Avatar
January 16, 2014 at 6:10 PM
Oh by gar! A fit un fer the pub, eh me darlin. daver
O'Leary Avatar
January 29, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Exquisite imagery for the sea, for the surf, and kinda funny too, Mikki! Wonderful! Terry (and thank you for your kind words... maybe I'll look around for a pair of shoes with gold buckles ... a present for you...)
Cavanaugh Avatar
November 24, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Love your poem and your tapestry of words. Wonderful write.
Austin Avatar
August 27, 2012 at 10:15 AM
A regular storm movement from some symphony, or a scene from an opera. Your rhythmic movement is wonderful, keeps the storm in reality. Then, the topper - those last 8 lines. Love, daver
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