Best Sails Poems
A prolific singer, you mimic songs of Blue Jays -
From the poem, The Mockingbird by Vijay Pandit*
BLACK SAILS
You charleton! I believed you when the full moon stopped overhead,
when the breeze like a quilt wrapped around me with warm heat, when
your fingers flirtatiously covered the holes of your flute, my pet —
you once were all that, and I believed you. What a fool was I
for the entreaty of love. Oh how those vibrating lips fiddled with my ears.
The charm, like a waterfall imbued with a rainbow. It sang like a buzzword
from Tristan — oh if only I had pretended black sails, forfeited your love
back then. Instead this slavegirl jangled her dowry skirt toward the storm.
Your puppy dog eyes, like a shepherd’s — I didn’t see the leper underneath.
The claws of your paws like a lion’s in manic kill. Yet, I saw what I wanted to see.
You’d stroke my hair at dawn ~ how’d I miss the threatening tug, the mock
of your arsenic tongue. No, Romeo, I’d not die for you; I’d kill for…
Oh but my eyes fill with cerulean skies, palm branches that cool me
down, your lyrical laughter, the brawn of your arms — robust waves.
And as I die, poisoned by the arrow of heartbreak, this poicephalus cues
a prolific singer, you mimic songs of Blue Jays.*
4/13/2020
Poetic lines from a Poetry Soup poet - Vijay Pandit Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Silent One
Note: A poicephalus parrot is not very smart
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
ever haunting in devious wombs...
tattered voyagers embarking to the confine,
and by nightfall, swarthy leather pants
whip and crack like the white flag
blowing and tearing in a cold snap.
On ebony sails the ravens are perched,
pecking at threads that dangle
from dusky cloths which follow
a foreboding path among the charcoal seas,
with only a pale, crescent moon to light the way.
Heavy weighted winds we will travel;
with no need cast anchor to rest, for
even under the darkest of starless skies
we will navigate through any storm.
Whirlwinds of ships
encircle endlessly in a carousel of waves,
each riding their horses in a cynical unison,
Captain yell fire, seize fire, aim... and fire again.
On the ashen deck the posts are split,
the ocean floor reverberating while
fingers trace softly around her lips,
saturated in sweat and tears... hope, and fear.
In our time we've marked our authority,
through scorching suns and frigid blizzards...
on ebony sails we headway forever
to our home beyond the sea...
She
sets sail,
November,
riding waves of
eddy leaves left from October’s debut.
Majestic and proud, she takes firm command,
steering the bow
of Winter
toward
Spring.
How does a bird fly?
Simple, it raises its sails
to a sea of wind.
I feel the tinge of a windblown face
And set my sails to open space
Leave behind my shadowed sorrow
To explore wind-fed days of tomorrow
I'll find direction from the wind
Let it guide and not rescind
It's pushing force that moves me on
To await the light of every dawn
And seek life's measure far beyond
These churning waves I sail upon
Horizon's thread I'm sure to reach
From tethered sails, I do beseech
There I'll find a life unspoiled
To be free, to be uncoiled
And feel the sun upon my chin
Always turn to face the blowing wind
8/24/17
MY SHIP SAILS
my ship sails at midnight,
my love and I out for a joy ride,
as waves rock our world,
by the glow of a sappy moon.
our sea salt lips tingle,
the warm caribbean breezes
engage our sensate shadows.
pure bliss, in cups of cheer.
burdens of work, far, below deck.
my hair tangoes in such freedom,
and i weakly smile at my love.
his hair a dashing gray,
his eyes - those familiar browns.
i was crashed to the shore,
thrown overboard, with such eyes
as his. when they soften i fall
in love all over again.
again and again.
Kim Rodrigues © 2017
"Sails"
Running along
the cliff edge
like dirt music
racing sharks
in the shallows
he wrote
his messages
on walls
tall ships
breezing
in the sales
torn pages
pinned
to the flip side
walking the floors
of Freedom
recording notes
moving his fingers
along the day
like he’s playing
the keys of a piano
the words
and music
of his life
flying swiftly away
like blackbirds
in his brain
a tall ship
pushing through
towering waves
broken mast mended
he's a captain at the wheel;
a Kingfisher
watching over him
hidden high in the
sails
(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)
sales.
sails.
freedom.
In the hold tears are shackled
White eyes stare dark corners
Bare breasts hang limpid
Humanity dowsed in sewage
The slaver pitches, rolls
Each wave a fathom from home
Each trough a deeper despair
The screams and creaks in rhyme
Lost souls ghost the gloom
Living meat on planked beds
The stench of shame fills the air
The cry for God but no one there
The slaver ponders onwards
With its holds of sins
Black gold, worth in weight
Only time holds their fate
Bilges slurp of piss and degradation
Chains chatter, implore salvation
But the lash comes quick
Skin and hearts so easily broken
White sails on waves of shame
Sullies forth in evils name
Devil smiles at man's behaviour
And fortunes gained on slave labour
On the quay in lines they stand
Commodity of a human brand
And brand they will, darkened skin
With each mark a white man's sin
Dark these pages of history
Have we travelled in our thinking
Just how far have we come
The nettle of conscience does it sting
As racism still festers in the heart
White sails still float waves of shame
Ships without sails
There's a man walking on the water
There's a man walking on the sea
There's a man walking on the water
And he's calling out to me
He said son I know you been drifting
Like a ship without its sails
But when life's storms are raging
I have a peace that never fails
So take my hand and we'll cross together
This here sea of pain and tears
Just lean on me forever
And I'll calm all your fears
I cried Lord would you save me
Please don't let my boat go down
He smiled and said I love you
And I would never let you drown
As I reached out to Jesus
I saw the scars he bore
Then my life found true meaning
Because I knew what they were for
When we touch the hands of Jesus
When we feel those scars from nails
Then our lives will find their purpose
And our ships will find their sails
WEATHER SAILS
What if the clouds themselves were like sails of a giant
Heavenly ship, its masts the very shafts of ethereal light
Cascading from Nirvana itself, white powders weather wings,
Guiding this planetary blue worlds atmosphere, in the ocean
Of a vast universal black sea, amongst the elliptical timeless tides,
Of the divine!
Swaying to the shift, shifting to the sway, angelic thin veils melting,
Vaporizing into nothingness, moistures wind catchers these waves
Of the untamable storm, called the outer stratosphere,
God’s bluish green vessel, a bio-sphere of natural miracles!
Lightning’s lordly finger prints as a masterpieces maker,
Attempts to touch his living masterwork of brilliance,
And echoing with thunder’s joyous sounding, as his pleasures
Reply!
Aft to the sterns guiding wheel, this captain of the mortal soul
Guides all hands aboard through our lives perfect storm,
No matter the hellish tides challenges, the torrents currents
Of reality to be overcame, within the faithful hearts of
Spiritual flame, no lantern light could be more prevalent
Then our fathers on high!
Oh let the lost find their way homewards, by the lighthouse
Of the everlasting, allow the bright beams of glory’s shine,
To protect these sailors of the sinful, and finally be embraced
By his unfathomable love for his fallen children!
Dropped is the anchor of faith, amongst the stars blazing
In the translucent skies, as his moon shield sparkles in
Illuminance elegance, dancing across the aquatic lunar stream
Beneath!
What if the clouds themselves were like sails of a giant
Heavenly ship, its masts the very shafts of ethereal light
Cascading from Nirvana itself, white powders weather wings,
Guiding this planetary blue worlds atmosphere, in the ocean
Of a vast universal black sea, amongst the elliptical timeless tides,
Of the divine!
BY: CHERYL ANNA DUNN
DEDICATED TO: POET DESTROYER, VERA DUGGAN, MYSTIC ROSE
For these women of inspiration that I owe so much too,
To my sisters of the heart, whom have kept me grounded at times,
Yet have allowed me to spread my wings of inspiration to soar!
He Lost Wind Of Her Sails
In the ocean of his mind,
always turbulent,
there sits a Bermuda triangle,
ships being lost, swallowed,
for he was once
a ship lost,
swallowed,
never to be heard
or seen, too,
especially with his ex.
In his coral kingdom,
bright colorful fish swim.
So many.
So many
tangs and angels.
Yet
he is so oblivious to.
It's
the turbulent,
swirling in his mind,
taking precedence,
two passing ships in the night,
lost,
sailing to where,
who knows.
Each without a dock
or anchors,
or rudders,
sailing,
sailing in opposite directions.
He pauses to take a look,
at her ship,
... her.
Still sleek,
her,
... her
anointed nose
highly up in the air.
He blinks.
He knows that look,
especially her diction,
authoritative and theologian.
His mind swirls.
Was that the moon howling?
Or was that her?
It can't be her speaking.
She hates him,
not giving him the time of day.
Or was that his subconscious
fluttering?
The voices swirling in his mind.
His voices from the past
stage fright, still ...
voices that never came out.
She had that effect
on him,
at a passing,
a passage of time,
two ships sailing
in opposite directions
... swelling in his mind.
connie pachecho
6/07/17
Sails gliding on the shimmering sea,
don't be hasty to engulf silence
as the chapel's choir engages in a spiritual oratorio praising Him;
an octave higher or lower brings
their inspirational hymn to a desired sound of felicity...
those tones that the loud organ makes!
We, as they, are lifted by the sustenance of faith,
too pure and orthodox to extinguish our oneness of spirit;
adhering to rigid standards and beliefs...forbidding sin
to feed on its vain opprobrium and oppress purity!
We, as they, dwell in this oracle to outshine indefinitely,
and outreach every unreachable and unconquerable limit!
Sails gliding on the shimmering sea,
watch the advancing sunrays osculate the waves of the harbor,
and the optical images that reality conveys!
See the ospreys which learn their skill by osmosis...
that even the ovenbirds can't acquire;
hear the believers's proclamation presaging and predicating unity!
Irreverent and doubtful soul, don't pursue vanity:
don't be similar to a prancing horse that surprises the rider;
don't prattle when foolishness becomes a hangover!
You have put too much effort into exhibiting your valor...
hardly serving a purpose and be totally useful;
be like the sails gliding on the shimmering sea!
Copyright 2009 by Andrew Crisci
This then is the moment-the wiley eyes of destiny are upon her
How wretched are the journeys she has sought
When Fate has dealt her mighty blows
She will seek redemption and bow to the resignation
Of moments lost-rampant realities to face
And yet
Somewhat aligned with that dark horizon
There is a vessel that falters but drifts
Ever onward toward the shining sky
In the vast nothingness-the insipid scenarios of this life
Afloat she stays trying so laboriously to travel on
Weak as the current may be
And in a moment of strength-moments only that they be
She will look into the future and know without doubt
Her ship shall continue to progress into the depths
Laughter and hope will she own again helping her reach
That balmy,far away shore
Aye and it’d be “Land Ho”, ya lazy landlubbers!
It’s where ya’d be if ya’d had yer druthers,
Braggin’ the seven seas and swiggin’ pints of ale,
Chasin’ maidens and wishin’ on a mermaid tail!
Look sharp! Turn to! heave ho! All hands on deck,
Er I’ll have hemp stretchin’ round yer neck!
Thars work at be done afore ya see yer lovely Bettys,
Grab rudder afore ya run er up on the the jetties!
This old ship is mine from crow’s nest ta keel,
Heave to er you’ll be beggin yer next meal!
Swing the yardarm, rig the jibs, look lively, set sail!
Follow the south end a that north bound whale!
Put on yer sea legs and hand me the long glass
We be after silver mateys! Copper and brass!
Yu'd rob the gems off the pearly gates!
BILLOW THE SAILS, MATES!!
Mariners in our wanderlust,
We sail beyond the horizon’s curve.
Fearful, we dare the briny deep
Out of faith in the dreams we serve.
Rough-hewn by years of knots and coils,
Our hands hoist up the canvass sails,
In the ways that the ancients toiled,
To cross the many-fathomed deep.
The muted moaning of the masts;
The pitch and the roll and the yaw
Of wooden hulls upon the deep;
The wondrous fear of freedom’s call.
Daredevil dolphins rise and roll,
As fleets of flying fish fin by
Pursued by patrols of petrels
Winging o’er foam and stinging spray.
We plough the mirrored Milky Way,
Bright on the obsidian main,
As pale phosphorescent plankton
Stream by beneath the midnight moon.
Monsters revel in the tempests,
Risen from out the great abyss.
They lurk in misty fjords, off port,
Glowering in the wine-dark sea.
The heartbeats of our bodies blend
The ancient rhythms of our cells
With the rising, falling rhythms
With the siren rhythms of the sea.
Mariners in our wanderlust,
We behave like a swarm of bees,
Spreading the pollen of culture
To the four antipodes.