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Titanic--Fare Thee Well Contest--Queen of the Seas

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Within the dungeon of the deep there sleeps the queen of all the seas, who swung assurance at the sweep of ghostly peril on the breeze, and dared the elements to ply their angered forces at her head that she might battle and defy— and lo! one battle left her dead. With all the graces of a royal court she slipped the tethers of the tide and glided far away from the port that bound her power and her pride and with the promise of her youth and all the future in her sway she strode in triumph over truth and tossed the danger with the spray. Within her heart was greatness and gaiety her sinews stretched in unfathomable length the very heavens seemed to play beside the pulses of her strength! and through the day and through the night of billowed pleasure undismayed, her throb of fervor set to flight came the toll of fear, and fear obeyed. While the miracle of man flew her flag in majesty, came the muffled knell of doom the flash of fate, the riven ship the plunge into the gulf of gloom and thus she ends her watery kinship a thousand lives entombed are beneath the wonders of the wave a thousand spirits vanished far beyond the waters of the grave; and sunken in that solemn keep lies the graveyard of a vessel vast where only weeds and fish creep among the portholes of the past.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 1/17/2024 6:04:00 AM
Excellent entry for the contest Sara. It would have placed higher if it had followed the instructions more carefully. Nice job!
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/17/2024 8:05:00 AM
thanks, Tom, for the feedback. I knew when I submitted it that the poem didn't exactly follow what I thought you were looking for. I submitted it anyway with fingers crossed :-) I appreciate the challenge. Have a splendid day, Sara
Date: 1/15/2024 6:05:00 AM
A blessed New Year to you as well. ;0)
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/15/2024 4:57:00 PM
thanks, Richard...take care, Sara
Date: 1/15/2024 4:02:00 AM
Wow! You’ve nailed it sweet sara! Rhymes and cadence of your well woven words truly left me in awe captivated! And your way of word pairing too is so outstanding! Especially love “ gulf of gloom“ “ flash of fate,“ “ tethers of the tide“ this is so descriptive and so well written for the prompt: and i enjoy your rhymes as much as your other forms, you own any form you try: and I couldn’t help but think of the ill fate of titanic, so many lives lost. And as i read this i felt it more: fave this is
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/15/2024 4:28:00 AM
I'm humbly grateful for your enthusiastic comments and for catching the detail of the words, phrases, etc. That means a great deal to me. I, too, have thought about the Titanic and the tragic ending of so many people's lives. Thank you, too, for the fave. I appreciate your ongoing support, more than mere words can say, hugs, Sara
Date: 1/15/2024 2:41:00 AM
Imagine being there on that night, knowing your fate. History paints the picture and the story goes on.
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/15/2024 4:29:00 AM
thanks for your visit, Paul. As I researched and wrote this poem, I tried putting myself in the position of the people onboard that ship...hard to truly fathom. Have a splendid day, Sara
Date: 1/15/2024 12:50:00 AM
Sara, absolutely beautiful, with so many wonderful lines, best of luck in the contest, a winner to me and a FAV, blessings, Constance
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/15/2024 4:30:00 AM
thank you for your meaningful words and encouraging comments. Color me grateful! Thanks, too, for the fave...highly appreciated. Have a blessed day, Sara
Date: 1/14/2024 6:49:00 PM
You've really laid out the magnitude of the failure of this ill-fated vessel and her passengers -- and in a larger sense, the 'world of progress,' which betrayed so many who believed so fervently in it. Bravo, Sara. ~ Gershon
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/15/2024 4:32:00 AM
thank you, Gershon, for the 'bravo' and for seeing the underlying tow of the 'world of progress.' Embracing it at any point in history has both a positive and negative side. Enjoy your day, Sara
Date: 1/14/2024 6:29:00 PM
The tragic fate of a majestic ship and its queenly captain, who meets her end at sea, the captain's bravery and downfall, the ship's loss, and the lives lost at sea. You convey the grandeur and tragedy of the ship and its captain with your evocative language. The imagery of the "dungeon of the deep," "ghostly peril," and "graveyard of a vessel vast" creates a sense of foreboding and danger. Great poem dear Sara. Best wishes for the contest
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/15/2024 4:33:00 AM
you're most kind, Sotto, with your encouraging comments. I'm grateful for your acknowledgement of the imagery and the emotions conveyed. I'm grateful for your visit. Have a splendid day, your poetess friend in Texas, Sara
Date: 1/14/2024 4:41:00 PM
That was such a sad happening especially for the ones who were trapped deep down inside the boat and had no way to get out. The poor on there had high hopes of getting to America to start over in a new land. Thanks for sharing your work with us and for dropping by my page. Sara K
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/14/2024 4:48:00 PM
I agree, Sara K....it was an unfathomable tragedy...hard for me to wrap my head around it. Have a great week, Sara B
Date: 1/14/2024 4:06:00 PM
Good luck for the contest! This was quite a journey...flowed very well
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/14/2024 4:34:00 PM
thank you, dear Paige! I appreciate your visit and your comments....enjoy your week ahead, Sara
Date: 1/14/2024 1:42:00 PM
You captured so much and displayed it with such vigure. Present are pictures in my mind. And for the first time thinking; God has said so much. And it is shown by your writing of it. Good work.
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/14/2024 4:35:00 PM
thank you most kindly for your positive comments. I'm grateful for your input...have a splendid evening, Sara
Date: 1/14/2024 12:08:00 PM
Wow! This is so well done. Each stanza felt like a wave of emotion sliding over my heart.
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/14/2024 4:35:00 PM
wow, Richard! Thank you for those awesome comments. Wishing you a wonderful new year, Sara
Date: 1/14/2024 10:58:00 AM
What a terryfying experience that must have been Sara, the only good thing to come out of that tragic event was that all ships were to have enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew. Best of luck in the contest and hope your weekend has been an enjoyable one. Tom
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/14/2024 4:36:00 PM
thank you, Tom! I agree...I can't even fathom a tragedy of that magnitude. Yes, at least cruise ships were made safer as a result. Wishing you and yours a great week ahead, Sara
Date: 1/14/2024 10:52:00 AM
An excellent poem for the contest, dear Sara.. Your poem beautifully captures the tragic tale of a once-mighty queen of the seas, whose daring spirit and defiance of nature led to her demise. The vivid language and imagery create a sense of grandeur and tragedy.. The portrayal of the Titanic as one who "swung assurance at the sweep of ghostly peril" paints a picture of courage and resilience. The defiance against the elements is palpable, as she battles but sadly succumbs in a story we know wel
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/14/2024 4:38:00 PM
thank you for your words, Silent One. I appreciate you noticing the 'queen' and her daring spirit that brought her demise. You provide feedback so well, and I'm grateful...have a wonderful week ahead, Sara
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Silent One
Date: 1/14/2024 10:53:00 AM
Ran out of words... good luck in the contest!
Date: 1/14/2024 10:13:00 AM
Nice poem. GL in contest.
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Sara Etgen-Baker
Date: 1/14/2024 4:38:00 PM
thank you, Jay...fingers crossed...enjoy your week ahead, Sara

Book: Shattered Sighs