Gary Radice | + Follow Poet |
Rhyme | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

The Lights and the Silos

an hour before docking
it was ice cold and freezing
as the vessel like scissors
cut clean through the swell

and the ship’s horn then sounded
and woke those still sleeping
startling the standing
and seagulls as well

and the door opened outwards
on a windswept and dark deck
as a lighthouse and headland 
appeared to our right

while the radar was turning
mixing mist with the morning
as we looked over railings
still wet from the night

and the lifeboat above us
secured by strong davits
dripped north sea in droplets
from somewhere on high

and the noise of the engines
grew loud and then quiet
as the spindrift and windchill
danced wild with the sky

and the lights and the silos 
of europoort holland
shone bright in the distance
to paint such a view

that had us transfixed 
with our backs towards england 
as dawn beckoned others
to stand and stare too.

Copyright © Gary Radice | Year Posted 2020

Please Login to post a comment

Mark Toney Date: 9/12/2025 12:32:00 AM Gary, I looked up Europoort, Rotterdam, on the Internet and saw “The Lights and the Silos” all lit up at night. With your descriptive imagery you transported us right there. Congratulations on your top 10 win on Mile 15 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. We’re well past the halfway point! Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 16 has already started. You can find your current standing in my Mile 15 blog post. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 9/13/2025 1:44:00 AM There was so much beauty in the industrial landscape that morning. Cheers - Gary

Constance La France Date: 1/1/2021 5:31:00 AM Gary, you are a gifted storyteller, I felt like I was on a wave reading your beautiful poem and I wanted more, well done _Constance Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/1/2021 6:03:00 AM Thank you Constance. Many of my poems are based upon a series of scenes captured during my lifetime that have stayed with me. Thanks for reading. Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick Date: 1/1/2021 5:07:00 AM This one had good rhythm, rhyme and flow. I enjoyed reading it this morning. Thanks for your visit to my page. I appreciate you reading and commenting on my work. Sara Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/1/2021 5:21:00 AM Sara, thank you for visiting and your comments. I found your poem particularly powerful this morning, made more so by the "naive" picture of the swing that accompanied it. Cheers - Gary

Geoffrey Brewer Date: 12/31/2020 8:06:00 AM I love the form of this poem with its telling images and driving rhythms. It is classic in style and a delight to read. Might I suggest (excuse my impudence; I confess that I have improved many of my verses by removing words) that minor editing could make it even better - in particular removing the odd redundant word to comply with the meter. Very well done, Gary. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/31/2020 8:38:00 AM Geoffrey thanks so much for the comments and the constructive advice. Cheers - Gary

Elaine George Date: 12/29/2020 4:13:00 PM You painted such a magnificent picture with your words, Gary. Wishing you the best year ever in 2021. ~ Elaine Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/30/2020 12:24:00 AM Thank you for your valued comments Elaine. I admit to being very undecided as to whether the poem should begin with stanzas 3 and 4 followed by 1 and 2 or leave things as they are as it is read here. The very best to you and yours in 2021. Cheers - Gary

Quoth Theraven Date: 12/28/2020 8:02:00 PM Gary, Bright as buttons, I can just see the radar in surface search high on mast. Sometimes I miss the endless swells. So many white foamed crests and dread filled troughs in those heavy sea state waves of life. -Richard Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/29/2020 12:17:00 AM Thank you Richard. I spent some time trying to find the words to describe in more detail the waves but couldnt come up with the words for some reason..your "white foamed crests" and the "dread filled troughs" articulates exactly how I wanted to describe what I saw. It had been a very rough crossing :) Cheers - Gary

David Kavanagh Date: 12/28/2020 12:48:00 PM This one would make a great ballad Gary, Somehow resonates with mull of kintyre, if only you could put music to it, great write and imagery, cheers David Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/28/2020 1:28:00 PM Thanks for the visit David. Actually..reading it back it does have a folky ballad thang going on...unintentional..but yes..cheers! I need to learn guitar :)