Jason Horsler Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

(03/2025) One of my favourites, this onomatopoeic poem was partly penned at 3am. I am a fan of naval/nautical/Napoleonic history and fiction and I love reading books by C.S. Forester, Patrick O’Brian, Alexander Kent, Richard Woodman, Bernard Cornwell and many others.

First published in the book: 'Author Unknown' and also included in the 2025 omnibus 'Butterfly Mind'.

THE PRESSED MAN

‘When will I anchor here again?’
The sailor’s heart then cried.
He asked it of the wind and wave,
but ‘shh’, the sea replied.

The horizon called and still he stalled,
looking long from the landward side.
He wanted to shout his farewell out,
but ‘shh’, the sea replied.

The mist began to veil the hills
where he left his weeping bride.
Would she hear his wretched sad goodbye?
But ‘shh’, the sea replied.

The captain’s call and the bosun’s pipe
could not now be denied -
so he whispered prayer to return back there,
but ‘shh’, the sea replied.

And for all the moons and different stars
and a thousand change of tide,
he raged to be away from home,
but ‘shh’, the sea replied.

The storms blew and the cannons roared
and somehow our sailor died.
His bonnie over the ocean wept
and ‘shh’, the sea replied.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Kissie Banks February 3, 2026 at 12:01 PM I love the story and the flow of this poem. This is very cool. What an awesome poem. Jason Horsler February 5, 2026 at 1:50 PM how kind. please share it.