Standdown Day

Standdown Day
USS Coral Sea—Spring 1979
standdown day
no flights
alone I stand upon flight deck
three football fields long
thousands of tons of solid steel

an insignificant gray speck
upon the bounding main
below decks five thousand sailors
and marines on a mission
some scramble, others grind on 
some sleep
fourteen-hour days
seven days straight
now standdown day
dusk

gulf water mirror still
a vivid rainbow spans in
a high, full, majestic arc
horizon to horizon

night

below decks I pass berthing
areas crowded with
bed racks stacked three high
eerily quiet for a crammed
metal city

I must work through the
Night and into the morning

Looking forward always to
The next port


by Robert Gorelick
November 11, 2025

veterans dayfree verse

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Duke Beaufort

November 17, 2025 at 8:20 AM

Robert, an interesting tribute to Veterans Day. You provide some insight into the kind of life a sailor has on board a fleet vessel. I'm thinking about the sailors on the Gerald Ford and wondering what they will be doing in the coming months. I've noticed that when we dispatch our military like this, it usually means there will be some expenditure of armaments if you get my drift. Thanks for your service and great presentation! Smiles!!

Gershon Wolf

November 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM

This is an awesome poem, Robert. Yor descriptions bring me below deck, on deck, and right into port with you. I hereby give you, without any right or authority to do so, the 'Herman Wouk 'Navy Man with a Conscience' award. ~ 'Chutz-Pa Wolf'

Robert Gorelick

November 13, 2025 at 11:29 AM

Thx Gershon. After rereading The Caine Mutiny, I think you stole the strawberries! LOL. Anchors aweigh & Sholom, my friend