Tom Cunningham Poet Terza Rima

Notes About The Poem

For 2026-4-02 Write A Beautiful Terza Rima Poetry Contest.

Sponsored By Constance La France.

The Hero’s Of The Waves

Since it was founded over 200 years ago the RNLI has saved over 146,000 lives at sea, often putting themselves in great danger, I salute those brave men and women, those guardian angels of the sea.
Quote by poet.






The R.N.L.I is an old institution,
of volunteers who save lives at sea,
of them I have nothing, but admiration.

Six hundred of them have died tragically
since its formation two hundred years ago,
always remembered for their selfless bravery.

They venture out in heavy rain, fog, and snow 
with hurricane force winds and 70-foot waves,
only experienced crew are chosen to go.

Many volunteers lie in watery graves
often taking risks that end in tragedy
brave men and women, heroes of the waves.

The lifeboats are a registered charity
and survive because of your generosity.

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Andrea Dietrich August 6, 2026 at 7:18 PM I can't find anything if yours new to read but I see this was a winner. So back with my belated congrats 👏 Tom Cunningham August 6, 2026 at 9:26 PM Thank you very much Andrea, for your congrats and return visit.. Tom🌹

Sara Kendrick May 5, 2026 at 4:23 PM Back with congratulations on your winning work in Constance's contest. Way to go. Thank you for sharing this beauty with us. Sara K Tom Cunningham May 6, 2026 at 1:12 AM Thank you for congratulations and return visit Sara, on my travels again, hope you're well, enjoy your week ahead. Tom

Paula Goldsmith May 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM Back with Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful "The Hero’s Of The Waves" write/story again. Have a blessed day with your wonderful win................ Tom Cunningham May 5, 2026 at 10:16 AM Thank you for your return visit and congrats Paula, I'm on my travels again. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Judy Ball April 22, 2026 at 12:53 PM WoW! Hear! Hear! My friend. I too have nothing but admiration for these brave souls who risk life and limb for others in distress. Good Job. God Bless, JB Tom Cunningham April 22, 2026 at 11:47 PM Thank you Judy, many come from little coastal towns in the uk and are all unpaid volunteers, men and women of steel. Tom

Deb M April 22, 2026 at 10:45 AM What we do in this world without selfless people like those volunteers Tom....a beautiful and sad tribute to the kindness and dedication of R.N.L.I. who put their lives on the line to help others! Beautifully written....Debx Tom Cunningham April 22, 2026 at 11:45 PM Thank you Deb, I've read stories of their rescues,often attempting rescues when the gates of hell have opened, I have the greatest respect for them. Tom

Tania Kitchin April 21, 2026 at 3:36 AM Tom, a great poem. So many lives have been lost at sea, it's very tragic. Those who risk their lives saving others at sea are heroes and often not recognized. Best for the contest. Tom Cunningham April 21, 2026 at 6:05 AM Thank you Tania, some of the conditions they go out in is the stuff of nightmares but they never give up. Tom

Sara Kendrick April 17, 2026 at 2:12 PM Wow!! What a wonderful group of brave men who do this sort of thing. We have the US Coast Guard, but they get paid but some do lose their life in the line of duty. Thanks for sharing this one and reminding us that there are still awesome people in our world. Sara K Tom Cunningham April 17, 2026 at 10:17 PM Thank you Sara, paid or unpaid those that go out in those conditions deserve our praise and support, hero's every one of them. Tom

Kim Rodrigues April 15, 2026 at 8:59 AM In America we have the Coast Guard. We should take every opportunity to honor those who serve, special to my heart are those who serve on the waves. I served in the Navy along with other family and I know people currently in the Coast Guard! Great tribute! Tom Cunningham April 15, 2026 at 10:33 AM Thank you very much Kim, I hold them and your coastguard in high admiration, the conditions they often go out in to save lives is the stuff of nightmares, I bet you've seen some atrocious conditions in your service.. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Valsa George April 14, 2026 at 6:02 AM Rescuing lives of those who are lost at sea requires great courage and involves high risk of endangering life. Still many volunteer to go out on such a sacred mission. They are to be admired and remembered. A beautiful tribute to RNLI Tom Cunningham April 14, 2026 at 8:49 AM Thank you very much Valsa. Most coastal towns around the UK have lifeboat stations all manned by local volunteers whose bravery is renowned. Tom

Joe Maverick April 12, 2026 at 5:15 PM What an evocative write Tom..I agree Such a great institution.' The sad thing is they are put to sea to save the ( people attempting the channel crossing In inflatables) themselves pawns in the Scheme-antics of the w h o..' How to Get back to sanity.? And is there the will? Tom Cunningham April 12, 2026 at 9:32 PM Thank you very much Joe, I feel sorry for those fleeing persecution and conflicts but many are coming for the freebies. Are some terrorists? Who knows. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Andrea Dietrich April 11, 2026 at 3:41 PM That's so cool calling them angels if the sea. Heroes they are indeed, Tom Tom Cunningham April 11, 2026 at 9:40 PM Thank you very much Andrea, imagine being on a stricken ship in atrocious conditions with all hope lost and seeing them coming towards you, the guardian angels of the sea. Enjoy your weekend. Tom

Heidi Sands April 10, 2026 at 8:53 AM Wow. So nice and very powerful :) Tom Cunningham April 10, 2026 at 10:01 AM Thank you very much Heidi. Tom

David Kavanagh April 9, 2026 at 12:54 PM Unsung heroes one and all Tom, none of us know if we will ever need them, but at least we know they are there if we do! A heartfelt tribute by you in a very restricted form, good job those new boats they use can upright themselves if overturned, might make the job a bit safer, but certainly not any easier, great one for contest, cheers David Tom Cunningham April 9, 2026 at 1:43 PM Thank you David, read a lot about their daring rescues over the years, they're fearless, hurricane force winds and mountainous waves doesn't deter them, when the Penlee lifeboat was lost within days men from Mousehole in Cornwall came forward to form a new crew, one was the son of one who lost his life. I'm in awe of them. Hope you're enjoying the spring sunshine. Tom

Daniel Henry Rodgers April 9, 2026 at 9:08 AM Hello Tom, seventy-foot waves are a wall most of us will never have to face. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about that internal transition, the moment a person decides to head into the chaos when the rest of the world is screaming for them to stay put. There is a heavy, sobering truth in those "watery graves." It strips away the romanticism of heroism and leaves only the permanent weight of the sacrifice. Yes, what it actually costs to be the one who answers the call. Amen! Blessings, Daniel Tom Cunningham April 9, 2026 at 10:38 AM Thank you very much Daniel, they're based all around our coastline in the UK. The movie The Perfect Storm gives you some idea of what conditions they operate in, The sea is an unforgiving environment and it takes nerves of steel to attempt a rescue when the gates of hell open. They are held in the highest regard here in the uk. Hope your week is going well. Tom

Supraja Kannan April 8, 2026 at 9:35 PM What a lovely tribute to the brave people... Thanks for sharing the information about the institution. They truly are the heroes of the waves... Tom Cunningham April 8, 2026 at 9:54 PM Thank you very much Supraja, I'm happy that you enjoyed it. I have the greatest of admiration for them. Tom

Duke Beaufort April 8, 2026 at 10:10 AM Tom, thanks for this story of selfless courage and giving to help others. There are many good people in this world, and we need to celebrate what they do. You certainly do a great job with it!!! I see the institution is a charity. That's remarkable!!! Thanks!! Tom Cunningham April 8, 2026 at 10:28 AM Thanks very much Duke, they have nerves of steel, there was one attempted rescue by helicopter but the waves and wind made it impossible, the coastguard alerted the lifeboat at Penlee and they attempted a rescue,they managed to get four off and tried to go back for four more, contact was lost and both ship and lifeboat the Soloman Browne all perished. I wrote a long poem honouring those brave men. Imagine 70 foot waves and gale force winds yet they still attempted a rescue. Tom

Ink Empress April 8, 2026 at 4:10 AM I know how scary it is when the sea gets rough, i can only imagine how brave they are to face those tides and fight for their nation. It is risky and sometimes and often so many lose their lives too. What an empathetic powerful and soulfully moving poem this is. I absolutely loved reading it. And brilliant quote too to go with it. Pleasure reading you today. Sending you light always Tom Cunningham April 8, 2026 at 6:05 AM Thank you IE, manned by men and women, who show no fear when they're called up to rescue stricken ships at sea in atrocious conditions, all unpaid volunteers too I hold them in great admiration. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Victor Buhagiar April 8, 2026 at 1:31 AM A lovely quote, a great tribute to brave men. This will place high I'm sure. Great poetry too. Tom Cunningham April 8, 2026 at 1:44 AM Thank you Victor, they are fearless when they go on an rescue mission, the conditions they venture out in are the stuff of nightmares. Tom

Jan Allison April 6, 2026 at 3:36 PM what a wonderful tribute - the RLNI was actually started on the IOM! a charity close to our hearts for so many reasons! hugs Jan xx Tom Cunningham April 6, 2026 at 10:55 PM Thank you Jan, I remember you telling me that, what a great honour for the Island. I could have wrote so much more. Tom

Paula Goldsmith April 6, 2026 at 1:45 PM WOW!!! I enjoyed reading your wonderful "The Hero’s Of The Waves" write/story. What A Great Picture You Have Here. "Good Luck" I did, " Listen To The Wind Sing." Have a Beautiful/Blessed Day writing away............. Tom Cunningham April 6, 2026 at 1:49 PM Thank you very much Paula, I have the greatest admiration for those brave lifeboat crew. Tom

Ilene Bauer April 6, 2026 at 12:34 PM a fine tribute, tom! well-deserved! Tom Cunningham April 6, 2026 at 1:48 PM Thank you very much Ilene, I've read about many of their rescues often the gates of hell are opened is the best way to describe the conditions they work in. Tom

Lin Lane April 6, 2026 at 9:50 AM A heroic group worthy of being honored by your Terza Rima, Tom. Tom Cunningham April 6, 2026 at 9:59 AM Thank you Lin, they are a special breed of people, when the Solomon Browne was lost with all crew, within a couple of days people from the village stepped forward to form a new crew. Tom