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Voyager
He put to sea west south-west
in a small cabin amidships -
stole away in an unknown quest,
salty ocean brine wet on his lips
In the fires of smoke and light
Neptune raised his trident,
and led safe passage in the night
as stormy seas grew more violent
Into locks and narrow canal tide
the gates of Panama ahead,
betwixt two oceans a great divide,
“no turning back now” a voice said
Starboard to port, stern to bow -
the turbines below deck on.
He’d be back someday, somehow
but alas not for a long time gone
He saw the waves pound so high
and scowl of tempest wind,
until shadows off her bow slip by
in the playground of the dolphin
As a warm ocean breeze rolled in
he’d hear that droning hull -
feel the pitch of the sea in motion
and watch the albatross and gull
Ahoy, a long way from land afar
into the Tasman a sea rover.
No longer shone the Northern Star
but soon his journey would be over
The blue lagoons at Tahiti’s door
lay far from his island home -
like Columbus and Magellan before
in foreign lands not unlike his own
South Sea islands we bid farewell
deep into southern latitudes -
lifeboat drills did sound the bell
lest we sail a sea of vicissitudes
“Last port of call” I mused aloud
as over the ship ropes toss.
O’ Land of the Long White Cloud
sailed I on the SS Southern Cross
Written: July 1994
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