Best Sailor Poems
When you're topside in the gallants
and you're lookin' up at waves,
the wind's ascreemin' madness
intent on many graves.
The mate has said: "Lay aloft!",
and Third was on his way,
you scrambled up the shrouds windward
and laid to right away.
Now it's one hand for yourself
an' one hand for the ship,
oft hangin' on by eyelash
to last this windswept trip.
We be iron men from Denmark
an' seamen everyone.
We bring this ship to Scotia,
no loss for anyone.
Now it's one hand for yourself
an' one hand for the ship,
oft hangin' on by eyelash
to last this windswept trip.
I heard Congress was spending money like a drunken sailor
And I thought this was disrespectful
Congress spends like they are obsessed
For the future they’re neglectful
It’s disrespectful to drunken sailors
It is totally wrong what they say
Drunken sailors never spent
Assuming their grandchildren would pay
I was once a drunken sailor
And you know what’s really funny
I always stopped spending
Whenever I ran out of money
Congress are elitist bastards
So let this story be known
When drunken sailors spent that money
They only spent their own.
Congress has no conscience
Part of the political machines
They can spell INTEGRITY
But they don’t know what it means
I’d rather be a drunken sailor
And spend only what I amass
Than to spend it like a congressman
And be a horse’s (OH!! You know what I mean)
BMC Vince Suzadail Jr USNR-Ret.
Seafarer sat by the turbulent sea
Watching the offing and watching the waves;
Smiling with small teeth, the color of tea
Recalling journeys and the friends he’d made;
Photographs earmarking the good ole days,
The mariner clutched inside his hands
He long for the billows, brine, and the glade -
To brave the waves on his boat once again
“Clarice and I, sailed the seven seas!”
He’d boast to beachgoers every day
Vivid tales, made him a celebrity
As he talked about quests in lands far away
The people convened at summer’s end
To make the seafarer’s wish come true
They repaired the sailor’s battered friend -
So he could return to the oceans blue
Seafarer sat on the turbulent sea
Watching the offing and watching the waves;
Smiling with small teeth, the color of tea
Recalling journeys and the friends he’d made;
As he walked with pride, through the fields of ocean tides
a youth gathered hearts. And then one day his petals wide;
his heart broke the surface as he gasped for breath, a bride.
Being drawn away from his youth gathered bosom, she cried.
No longer she would be alone, she deserved someone who cared.
We showed each other just how happy we've made the other.
A lifetime of new beginnings becomes as one together.
6/22/2018
It was a good sailor God blessed me be.
In me veins be sea salts me heart pumps through.
I'le pray me Good Lord shall look after me
on dire crossing from port, to seas anew.
I'le trade not me fate to no man nor tide
in me marrow, sea brine me heart pumps through.
Me sheet be made fast to draft leeward side,
but this breeze too tight, for me ship to stand
yet I'le trade me fate to no man nor tide,
not to work a poor shop or plow on land
but sail this sea and a good sailor be.
This gale be too fat for her sail to stand.
A main mast crack, to be an end to me
to the bottom me ship and I'le may go
but fight this sea and a good sailor be,
it is all I've asked and enough to know.
It was a good sailor God tends me be
so be sea bottom me ship and I'le go,
even there me Good Lord looks after me.
The draw of the tide...
tugs away inside...
remembered rekindled emotion...
lived on the water ...
remember i ought...
Portugese, on the ocean..
cabin boy ..
on a 3 masted schooner...
we lived on salted pork...
the maggots they walked...
red meat went rotten the sooner..
In Timor it's said ..
we'd get fresh bread...
more chillies, beer by the jug..
first mate was casting the lead..
fathoms testing...
as into the harbour we lugged...
sailing round the Cape Horn ..
suicide borne..
over the side water torn..
ironic the twist
sinking forlorn....
no one there to mourn
drowning there did I exist... :)
where i went onetime....Don Johnson 17-may-11
Shall I do penance for my hasty words,
or poise myself on this quaint narrow quay
to smell the salty perfume of the sea,
on platinum ship sail so far away?
I quiver with trepidation and dread.
Forgive my horrid rashly spoken speech
before I venture this stormy voyage.
Assuage my repentant heart I beseech.
Alas I am in sad, sad quandary.
I pray you hear my true profound remorse,
accept my ardent amends and redress,
before I embark on this lonely course.
There once was a sailor named Popeye
He got through the navy with one eye
Wherever he sailed
The dames would all hail
They knew Popeye was not a bad guy
Popeye you know had a sweetie
A long legged gal not to meaty
Olive Oyl was her name
Popeye's love was insane
For his love was always entreaty
The trouble you know was called Bluto
A very strong sailor who knew judo
He was after the girl
That made his head twirl
For he felt they made quite a duo
Popeye was not very happy
He spoke to his father name Pappy
Pappy said to him son
Get rid of the bum
You don't want to lose and feel crappy
Popeye was really quite angry
He was really upset and cranky
So he took his old friend
Tied him up in a bend
Walked away a proud and true Yankee
Popeye The Sailor Man
My name is Popeye the sailor man
I don't live in a big garbage can
I dis-like Spinach
strong to the finish
I'll cook your goose in a fying pan.
Written: 11/14/14
Theresa
Sailor - A Hindi Poem in English
I am giving below a Hindi Poem of a great Indian Hindi writer Jai Shankar Prasad (30 January 1890 – 15 November 1937). I have translated this short Poem in English and I am placing it here on PS in both English and Hindi to bring both Hindi and English Poets a little more closely in understanding each other. This Poem is a token of my efforts to high light some beautiful works of Hindi in English and likewise some wonderful poetry of English in Hindi. Jai Shankar Prasad is considered to be one of the most famous figures in modern Hindi literature. Hope to have your attention on this new venture.
Sailor - A Hindi Poem in English
Translated stanza in English
O Sailor! You have brought me
On this deserted beach
While sailing on rugged waves
Has anyone ever come to this arduous place? 01
Hindi stanza lines in English
Naavik is soone tat par
kin lahron me khe laaya
Is biihad belaa me kyaa
Ab taq thaa koi aaya. 01
Translated stanza in English
.
To which shore I go back again
In the shabby lap of darkness
Without any temptation for life
In its painful deceits full of bluff. 02
Hindi stanza lines in English
Us paar kahaan fir jaaoon
Tm ke malin anchal me
Jivan kaa lobh nahin
Wah vednaa chadmamaya chal me.02
Translated stanza in English
On the path of reversal
Footprints can't be found
The deserted heart has shrouded
In the stream of overflowing tears. 03
Hindi stanza lines in English
Pratyaavartan ke path me
Pad chinh na shesh rahaa hai
Dooba hai hradaya marusthal
Aansoon nad umad rahaa hai.
Originally written by Jai Shankar Prasad
Translated by
Ravindra K Kapoor
Kanpur India 22nd May 2016
Sailor Bill decided to sail
Around the world where others had failed,
With him his trusted right hand man,
Cedric, the pelican.
Cedric would give him plenty of warning
When the seas looked like storming,
He'd flap his wings and do some squawking
Similar to as if the pelican was talking.
When there was no food on the table,
This smart bird was very able
To fly from the ship and catch some fish,
Then serve them up in sailor Bill's dish.
Alas the pair were know well
At ports of call where the ocean swell,
They always seemed to be having fun,
Sailor Bill and his crew of one.
Sometimes I feel like I am just slipping away. Slide me in the water like a dead man at sea. I can feel the cloth shroud surrounding and protecting me like a swaddled babe. And as I sink into the murky waters I feel the cold shoulder of God shrug and say let him be. And I pass into the afterworld in a sea of fear and discontent. I struggle to open my eyes but I can’t see. For I have been blinded by my stupidity. I believed that God loved me but it was not to be for I had to love God before I could pass from this world to his. And slipping into this darkness I knew that I was forever blind and food for the soulless bottom feeders of this world. I can’t go back I can only pray that you read this and make amends before you make the mistake of a sailor to long at sea.
A SAILOR WENT TO SEE SEE SEE. . . .
In Vladivostok, that’s a lot colder than Britain,
While my sub was in dock refittin’
After six months of sea-trials unremittin’,
I went to a burlesque show, of sailors befittin’.
In the crowds of fur-clad men sittin’,
I became a participant unwittin’
In a strangely familiar art-form, omittin’
No item of clothing and not quittin’.
She was one communist sex-kitten.
This girl unpeeled right down to her mitten:
Pink flesh was blue because it was frost-bitten -
Gave a new meaning to blue-movies yet unwritten.
All of a sudden I was smitten:
I saw her beauty was real fittin’
And thanks to stage lights she was well-litten.
It was my wife ! - and her image was spittin’ !
The last time I caught her, she promised she was quittin’ !
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Entered in Andrea's SHOW ME THE FUNNY poetry contest
There was a mermaid named Abigail
Who swam so fast she would leave a trail
Abigail could spin a tale
When a whaler would hail her
She'd charm the pants off any sailor
AP: 3rd place 2025
Submitted on July 31, 2018 for contest SEA TALES LIMERICK - TIM RYERSON R.I.P. sponsored by CAROLYN DEVONSHIRE - RANKED 6TH
the shipwrecked sailor
from the North
lands on land
between the seas
and sees
nothing but trees
the trees shade him from the sun
in the sky
the sky provides a medium
in which the birds
from the trees
can fly
and the birds
nested in the trees
on occasion
provide the sailor
birds to fry
unfortunately
the shipwrecked sailor
after his bird meal
and nap
still can’t fly