Best Seariver Poems
THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL
Giant ferry berthed in Mersey River :
Tugs take the strain with a shiver,
Ropes creak and we cast off -
She timorously inches away from the wharf.
Bow comes round and leaves the dyke:
Lit buildings spin carousel-like -
Strong currents have us in tow.
Black vortices with bubbles below,
Inkiness of river water stark:
Hear it more than see it in the dark.
Big crewman in black woolly hat
Yelling to another in Serbo-Croat:
Looks like mayhem but they know
How to swing her into the river, so
That ropes, men, machines, move in sync
Floating her out on the ink.
Liverpool fades in red glow;
Stars emerge from hiding low.
On the frowning wave
We are alone in the dark, save
Our own lights cast ghostly
Into nothingness mostly.
Go inside and shut out the night.
In the morning Dublin in sight.
SUBMARINE
It was Navy Day on the River Tyne*
I can remember I was about nine.
Four big grey warships to be seen
And a small black submarine.
The big ships were truly splendid
With flags and lights. They reminded
Me of olden days when ships had sails
And lots of well-polished brass rails.
But the sub
was menacing.
Small, black,
Powerful.
Like a mamba snake.
Inside it was tiny,
Comfort reduced
to minimum,
For maximum ability
to attack.
The flotilla put to sea together that evening
Flags a-flutter, big and proud, fast-steaming
Bands were playing, line-ahead formation.
Mighty, visible symbols of a naval nation.
But the sub
went alone,
and dived
below
the waves
silently -
waiting.
…………………………………………………………………………….
*River Tyne – a small but deep river in England, with extensive port facilities.