Best Ship Shape Poems
I try to see
back before
to who Eddy once was
just barely before when
the bending began
Eddy was after all
a cute child
wide eyed
hugging kissing and kind
Somehow horrible happened
It tricked and trapped his mind
Loud shouting screaming sounds
parents preaching pain
through domestic degradation
careless communication
fraught with frustration
Pass the potatoes please
then spilled milk smacking sensation
belt welts broken eggs no bacon
Get up go clean up
never ever interrupt
battles brief and abrupt
ranting and raving
mom misbehaving
Eddy helpless and in need of saving
experiencing what no child should be braving
Learning man lessons
before he started shaving
He can't depend on dear dad
who pretends perfection
in his ship shape barber shop
where his jolly joking rarely stops
Important friends doctors and cops
humorous happy back slaps
Eddy feels hidden looks and subtle attacks
Shoe shine simple
comic book quick
When the shop closes
Tearful Eddy gets another licking
At two times five even Eddy starts kicking
his hurt turns into fists swinging
runaway day trip escaping
Then away he starts staying
getting into trouble time
not enough praying
rules that need breaking
Who he'll become
there's little mistaking
what he wants he happily starts taking
He can't shake the mistakes
Travels life fast with worn brakes
Tears turn into lakes
He has and has caused
many heart breaks
Sometimes past prisons
Are to hard to escape
I think of my daddy
dear Eddy
and my soul shakes
Sometimes time ticks
Other times it just takes!
Inspired by a comment made by John Hamilton after he read my
poem "between the words of my father".
My Entry for S. Grace's "Mental Illness Contest."
I once had full hips which were ship shape
and bosoms which rose without duct tape
but now those who see me
pray God no bikini!
Having nightmares of what will escape.
Making Hay
by
Kevin Fairbrother
…
Gradually winter fades, spring has begun
The ground will warm up, the grass will grow
The winter rains, the spring sunshine, now for summer
This will make the grass grow and grow
…
The hot days with storms and rain
The grass is getting longer every day
Time to prepare the mower and hay rake
And make sure the baler is in ship shape
…
Plenty of grease in all moving places
The knives sharpened, bolts replaced
Machinery is ready for the harvest
Come December and hot dry weather
…
The disc mower attached to the tractor
Whirs into action to mow down the grass
Cutting the grass close to the ground, lays it flat
In the 10 acre paddock on the river flat
…
The paddock all cut in neat flat rows
Will need lots of sunshine to dry it out
A couple of warm hot days be ready to turn
Once turned another day be ready to bale
…
The baler hooked up begins to thump
As the pick-up feeds in the dry grass
The needle whirs and threads the string
The first bale rolls off the machine
…
Hour after hour the baler spits out bales
Soon the paddock is filled with square bales
The men move in with the flat tray truck
Load the bales with sweat and strength
…
The bales carted and under cover
The hay making machines now quite
The men gather around for a beer and a feed
The hay making done for another year
every day I go my tree
lets the grass grow and not lazy
I kick the cola and vodka to the curb
as not garbage to me
I see every morning
a multitude of sparrows
prancing the grass for seeds
and what is that to tally
ship shape or else crass
Dedicated to the Officers and crew of
USS Columbia (SSN 771)
Goodbye Sun
We are welcomed by men in
immaculate whites
Through a hatch
we descend a steep ladder
into "The Last Slider"
From a narrow corridor we enter
into the brain and nerves
of this vessel-
To my untrained eye the confusion
of cables overhead is bewildering
This black ship of stealth
tracks the world outside,
silently invisible itself
Rows of monitors, sonar devices
high powered periscopes
all with a myriad of buttons to push-
A marvel of technology -
yet men are the heart and soul
of this great ship
They are Submariners
They say goodbye to the sun
for months on end
Week after harrowing week they spend
day after day on grinding drills
where the only thrill is their daily meals
Systematic, methodical
They are human- in a ship of war
but a ship that exists for freedom
The Officers guide us through each section
The ship at rest has released them
from an endless commitment but
with a practiced eye
they are still attuned to every detail
Commanders almost prescient
so in step with every procedure
they can sense malfunction in their sleep
I notice the commitment to excellence
I note the pride behind the
preparations for our inspection
Blue curtains with the ships insignia
are drawn on bunk beds
Shiny copper engine parts, clean bright paint
reflects the values of those who
keep their vessel, ship-shape
Now I stand in the nose where the
weapons rest
The metal tubes look benign
for all the power they contain
Ironically in rows, directly above,
the crew's bunks are located-
in tiers of three -even sleep
is regimented
Photos of family are the only
human touch in
this dark, black, whale
of a vessel
The sense of duty for each individual
seems overwhelming
There is a spirit of complete trust
between them
This is a world for honorable men
"Victory is Silence"
I try to imagine daily living
the self-containment
the steely discipline
the choosing to go forward in the face of
uncertainty
Precision and man - morphing
The pact between Submariners is
absolute.
They move as one.
BRIAN'S CHOICE K,any form,any theme
Contest Judged: 5/19/2020 12:08:00 AM
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
3rd Place
?http://www.poetrysoup.com/poets/top_100_poets_most_poems_all_time.aspx
Rattling Others Cages
Suppose what you said, I were to renounce
Would on my person you start to pounce
And again another game begin to play
Which was called, "Trying to Get Own Way."
Actually, accordingly to my latest prediction
You surely will have produced much friction
And projected to end up in pretty poor shape
Without any doubt at all, lack any escape.
So if ship shape is way you want to be
Reality is our perfect American Society
Become educated and others do bother
Who you find related to a Family Father.
Heavens to Betsy Ross and God forbid
Was wondrous things that ancestors did
Part of pages of sages through the ages
Who thoroughly enjoy rattling others cages.
James Thesarious Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
Ship shape
I wake
Sun rise
Rub eyes
Set sail
Kiss gale
Boat rides
King tides
Big bite
Fish fight
All day
We stay
Reel in
Blue Fin
Clear sky
Gulls cry
June day
My way
Sun set
Feet wet
Reach shore
Back sore
Now dine
White wine
Great times
Wind chimes
Night falls
Sleep calls
Star light
Good night.
Pull-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks
Challenge the muscles in the arms and the back
Dead lifts, squats and overhead presses
Can build you up if not performed to excess
Stretching, yoga and meditation
Call for a different kind of concentration
Passive, non-contractile muscular action
Eastern bio-feedback-based satisfaction
Brisk walking or a round of jogging
Loosens those arteries, gets them unclogging
While swimming laps or competitive running
Sure beats lying under a sun-lamp sunning
A program of exercise on a daily basis
Keeps limbs and organs in perfect homeostasis
Think of your body as a finely tuned machine
You'll keep it trim, ship-shape, pure and pristine!
I can only presume your neck is in a brace,
Or why else could you not see what is in your wake.
I have a mirror you can borrow so you can see the fish you refused to take,
Now just treats for the sharks.
And what about your quota is that all above board and ship shape,
Or should I arrange a visit for you to see your fishing future,
I know you can look forward even with your brace on.
How about your ethics, are they the ones you started out in life with?
Or have you used undue influence to get a better quota.
If you have time to talk there is a solution,
That will still let our grandchildren's children have fish and chips.
A new kind of net a clever Kiwi has invented
Which lets the wrong sized and unwanted fish swim back out.
You will even notice the fish that you catch,
Will be less bruised and better to eat.
This new net may even save you some maintenance costs,
So you can lower your quota,
For the sake of our grandchildren's children.
SHIP SHAPE
\O/ \O/
0 0
/ \ / \
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//////////////////////////////////XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
/////////////////////////////////XXXXXX TWO AT THE OARS,XXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX“SEA”ZING THE DAYXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXMARRIAGE WITH ITS CHALLENGESXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXPULLING MEMORIES TOWARD DEEP, TOWARD SHORE. XXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
*** I SPIED MY SAUCY SAILOR GUY IN SHIP SHAPE UNIFORM ***
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXX I FELL IN STRONG. I FELL IN LOVE. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
2/14/2017 VALENTINE’S DAY
The Captain had a penny whistle
Which he wore around his neck
And he played it every morning
As the crew danced on the deck.
Sometimes it was a Hornpipe
Sometimes a Palais Glide
As the crew danced fore and aft
And from Port to Starboard side.
Prompt every morning
When the Bosun rang a bell,
And if he was feeling frisky
The Captain danced as well.
Sometimes on sunny mornings
The crew would stand at ease
While the Captain and a subby
Mimed a decorous strip tease.
Rain storm hail or shine
Until twenty minutes passed
When on a given signal
The crew would climb the mast
To set the sails and rigging
And get the ship under way
And so it continued
Every single day.
Two or three times a year
All the ships would meet
And the Captain and his crea
Would dance for the fleet.
It was on the good ship Venus
Which had been a ship of shame
Until the Dancing Captain'
Gave it a better name.
He became the only Admiral to wear
A penny whistle around his neck
And even in his dotage
Would dance around the deck.
Ship shape and Bristol fashion
When she was away at sea.
Oh on the good ship Venus
Such a happy place to be
Though thine two grown
former babes in crib age,
now lead checkered lives,
no longer monopolize my time
as though their persons went backstage
either one embracing, judging,
and negotiating positive
chutes and ladders with courage
evoking glee this papa
helped both beautiful lasses
avoid being risk averse
navigating life with minimal damage
though to get ahead of the class,
(asper the eldest Eden Liat)
credit karma fairly and squarely attributed
to herself with encourage
meant from this papa, who oft time
felt he lacked any clue
akin to a hobbled battleship left
to drift at sea, whence,
upon landfall sub
sequent lee forced to forage
in a foreign dominion (akin to being
among Settlers of Catan),
plus devoid of instruments to gauge,
an optimal strategic operation,
thus figuratively groping in the dark
(unaware of a brewing twister)
guided by blind faith
doth admit saying sorry,
but apologetic homage
would disqualify thyself,
a "FAKE" mastermind
undeserving of just desserts,
unfairly via diktat plucking sweet treats
awash within Candy Land,
a deceptive image
entrancing, luring and, spellbinding
ultimately incurring trouble,
particularly when Shana Aubrey
(younger by about
twenty six months)
garnered lion's share of parental attention
necessitated mandatory intervention
due to language
skills, plus pronounced
developmental delay,
where supreme social service
sages gentle massage
wrought divine prestidigitation
as one after another
case worker did overencourage
to counteract congenital
cognitive setback (coalesced in utero),
now finds das dada envious
(cuz, aye got mired, hogtied,
and bogged down with
obsessive compulsive trivial pursuit,
hence warrant so lucky as thee Punim)
steers ship shape body electric
round her uncharted cerebral
cape of good hope passage.
No therapist wanted to do any kind of counseling for B School, which to my home is quite near.
I was frankly bewildered that three of my friends, Susan, Tad, and Sun had told me they would never come back here.
B school looked lovely; the grounds were impeccably beautiful - flowers, wind spinners, and fountains with water ever so clear.
The reception area was colorful, welcoming, pretty even, a tribute to whoever designed it so dear.
I wondered why everyone I had spoken to who had been here hated it so, it was totally unclear.
The dean of students was lovely, smart, engaging, a good listener; a woman who seemed totally dear.
"I would like Tricia Tee take you around, "Dean told me, "So you can see what a ship-shape school we run here.
We had no sooner got to the first locker when a child started to walk past, and I yelled,"Mere!"
My former student looked up, scared, frightened, mesmerized, unable to move, hypnotized by fear.
"That's a demerit for you, Mrs. K, and a demerit for Mere," Tricia said snippily, writing it down in a notebook she had near.
Um...
I think I get it now.
Eddie/Dad
I try to see
back before
to who Eddie once was
just barely before when
the bending began
Eddie was after all
a cute child
wide eyed
hugging kissing and kind
Somehow horrible happened
It tricked and trapped his mind
Loud shouting screaming sounds
parents preaching pain
through domestic degradation
careless communication
fraught with frustration
Pass the potatoes please
then spilled milk smacking sensation
belt welts broken eggs no bacon
Get up go clean up
never ever interrupt
battles brief and abrupt
ranting and raving
mom misbehaving
Eddie helpless and in need of saving
experiencing what no child should be braving
Learning man lessons
before he started shaving
He can't depend on dear dad
who pretends perfection
in his ship shape barber shop
where his jolly joking rarely stops
Important friends doctors and cops
humorous happy back slaps
Eddie feels hidden looks and subtle attacks
Shoe shine simple
comic book quick
When the shop closes
Tearful Eddie gets another licking
At two times five even Eddie starts kicking
his hurt turns into fists swinging
runaway day trip escaping
Then away he starts staying
getting into trouble time
not enough praying
rules that need breaking
Who he'll become
there's little mistaking
what he wants he happily starts taking
He can't shake the mistakes
Travels life fast with worn brakes
Tears turn into lakes
He has and has caused
many heart breaks
Sometimes past prisons
Are to hard to escape
I think of my daddy
dear Eddie
and my soul shakes
Sometimes time ticks
Other times it just takes!
Now watch this man. He’ll take a chance!
Will he lead us a merry dance?
His goal, power. His play, quick words.
A minister and o so prime.
But watch out for he may ponder
And change his tack time after time.
Those thorny shoots he does not see.
No quick words come. Not even rhyme.
Now, watch this man. He’ll take a chance!
Will he lead us a merry dance?
He is captain at number ten.
And all ship-shape he runs the show.
He has a team of free wise men,
Who will argue which way to go,
By maybe re-writing the rules.
Hush-hush! The public must not know.
Now, watch this man. He’ll take a chance!
Will he lead us a merry dance?
With him confident at the helm
Britain sets sail to cross a sea,
Where stormy waters soon gather.
Our captain sails to set us free
From regulations of years past,
To now escape the EEC.
We watched this man. He took the chance.
Should we rejoice? Should we now dance?