Victoria Anderson-Throop Poet Ballad

Thewhaling Ship Captain's Lover Ballad Dedicated My Gmother's Life

THE SHIP CAPTAIN’S LOVER   (from my grandmother's life--her betrothed lost at sea on a whaling vessel in Norway 1890)

by Victoria Anderson-Throop

The winds blow free
And the winds blow cold
There never was a man so bold
As the man I loved who went to sea
The month he was to marry  me

Times were hard
And times were tough
Winds were cold
North seas were rough

But a whaling man will fight for breath
Dare the sea , defy their death
He ordered his crew
“come follow me
Who fears to sail
Is cowardly”

“No, don’t leave me--
Please --I called”
He slapped me then
He was appalled

I had shamed him with my fear
I should have handed him his gear
And wished him well upon his way
Gone on like any other day

A woman’s place is by the shore
Nothing less and nothing more
She never begs and never cries
Unless her own beloved dies

While I waited on the shore
Fear seeped out of every pore
Days went by
And then a week
Tears were shed by brave and meek

Life was bitter, life was sour
A bell was sounded from the tower
For each beloved man
Now lost--
What a bitter
Deadly cost.

And , for me,
My life's in tatters.
Men don’t know the thing that matters--
I wish I had my man so sweet
Not my world
Thrown at my feet.

Oh darlin’ babe now in my arms
Don’t fall victim to wild charms
When the sea calls in your head
Stay at home-- die in your bed

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Rockman Pritts May 1, 2013 at 1:48 AM Well done Victoria. I enjoyed this from beginning to end. I would like to counter with my poem, "The Romeo Effect". You did a great job here. Thanks for sharing. Rockman

Harry Horsman October 10, 2012 at 10:30 AM Victoria, this should be made into a movie, the profoundness and honesty moved me ever so much....just love this....

Jon A Cavanaugh October 10, 2012 at 6:57 AM I got up early this morning. Wanted to start reading your work starting from the most recent. You are a very prolific writer. What a superb poem you have written.

Sumit Majumdar October 10, 2012 at 4:29 AM Thanks for making me discover you. I love stories and your ballad exemplifies duty irrespective of consequences and the sadness of a bereaved. Very well written and I shall be reading it again.....and again!

Robert Pettit October 10, 2012 at 12:48 AM I found out long ago that most people here usually don't read the longer material. It seems they only have time for short pieces like haiku and senryu. That's a pity because they may never know what they are missing with this splendid write. This required more reading time, but it was time well spent.