Best Steamboat Poems
"Steamboat is a-comin' 'round the bend!"
My! Oh my! The wonders it might portend,
As it stopped by sleepy towns along the Missisip',
Dodgin' stumps and wayward rafts on its monthly New Awlins trip!
Its arrival was heralded by the town drunk who had nothin' else to do,
And the denizens who didn't flock to the wharf were very, very few!
The steamboat 'General Custer' was indeed a spectacular sight,
With fancy-topped stacks and palatial pilot house painted red and white!
The pilot rang the big brass bell, then folks began a frenzied rush.
The first mate let fly some dirty words - 'twould make a teamster blush!
He had ten minutes to lade his cargo and didn't suffer fools gladly.
Passengers scrambled on and off the boat fightin' each other madly!
There was a colorful parade of characters disembarkin' from the boat:
There came a preacher man clutchin' his Bible wearin' a black frock coat;
A soiled dove slithered ashore much to the delight of the local swains;
Followed by a shifty-eyed gamblin' dude with intent to swell his gains!
Drays, carts, horses and men vied for space to unload their freight,
Fightin' and cussin' and the mate hollerin', "Hustle! Hustle! It's a-gittin' late!"
The pilot rang the big brass bell and the steamboat was on its way agin'.
Til next boat, the drunkard is on the skids agin' guzzlin' his jug o' gin!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(c) 2015 All Rights Reserved
Enchanted Voyage
Aboard the Magnolia paddle steamboat
Bound down the Mississippi River
Carrying its precious cargo
Daring anyone for a challenge on her beauty and speed
Enchantment captivates guests of its breathtaking beauty a
Fortune spent to showcase and entertain in its
Grand elegant saloon with carved gilded mirrors
Hanging far above glimmering crystal chandeliers with flickering candle flames
Illuminating dramatic sparkling rainbow colors
Jump and dance with the excitement of the room
Keeping my place longing to melt into the
Laughter of the guest I listen to
Music that plays and sings its melody to the
Night’s mysterious shimmering sky
Obtaining consolation with
Paced movement sounds of the paddle wheel that lulls me into serenity
Quietly meandering slowly coursing down the muddy banks of the Mississippi River
Riding down to its adjacent towns
Savoring the faint breeze scents of the warm night air
Teasing the romantic scenes
Unique moonlight reflecting shadows cast by hanging limbs
Vulnerable to the rendering of the imagination
Whimsical Xebec shape illusion mysterious
Xenomorphic behavior
Yearning for a never ending voyage ride
Zest only of pleasure
© 7/10/2015
Xebec – small three-masted pirate ship
xenomorphic - having a form not its own
in an unusual form; having a strange form.
''V'' New Or Old Poetry Contest 3. voyage
Sponsored by: Constance La France
“Edward Bear” is this creature’s official name.
However, as “Winnie the Pooh”, he has achieved fame.
He is another great Disney creation.
Winnie is a product of creative animation.
Have you ever seen a cartoon titled “Steamboat Willie”?
That was the first appearance of a mouse named “Mickey”.
He has a cute little lady friend we all call “Minnie”.
They are also products of animations.
Together, they have entertained several generations.
For many more generations, they will stick around.
In Disney animated features they all can be found.
Robert Pettit
January 24, 2013
What goes into
caucus and committee
and what comes out
of caucus and committee
what dialogue travels
the halls of Congress
and what dialogue is absent
from those consecrated halls
what is debated on
the floor stays on the floor
and what rises to the ceiling
stays on the ceiling
a high wire act in a circus of clowns and puppets
trip over each other to raise money for themselves
what elevates the heavy
gavel of procedure
and what brings that mighty
wooden gavel down
who is written out of trade
partnership agreements
and who is written into trade
partnership agreements
what is left out of
national security legislation
and what is written
into security legislation
it has the shape and style and sound and appearance
of democracy but some fingers and toes are missing
cloaked in rhetoric
and petulant rant representatives
buzz from one special interest
flower to the other
pushing debased agendas
and empty proposals with impunity
unaware that every single meeting
and motion and voice
is attached to the life of
a determined and diligent citizen
dependent upon their
conscientiousness and empathy
clichés and bromides shift fast between nattering teeth
ranks close in and capacity for clear hearing thins out
tabloids and blogs are
the prime sources of knowledge
and gravitas is a slow steamboat
on the Mississippi
commentators and pundits
flap thick wicked tongues
giving lip service to Constitutional
principles and purpose
all thriving in a happy
broadband land where drones
drop bombs far away as
we sleep in peace and comfort
turn up the Wi-Fi
have another pitcher of brew
no need to ponder the wretched
who make it possible
for all of us
to live
Peein In The Mississippi
Mama she done left me last night
down at Gaslight Square!
Mama she ain't done me right
she done left me there.
I wish a steamboat was leavin
and gettin me outa here!
Oh Mama!
Beggin to that no hearted woman
it won't do no good
crawlin to that no hearted woman
wouldn't even if'n I could
and Mama, beggin that
cheatin woman,
gonna make 'bout as much a difference
as I did last night
peein in the Mississippi.
Oh! Lord what a night!
But you know little mama
she ain't done me right!
Oh Mama,
guess I mightas'well swim down
to Nawrlens,
but I don't like
swimmin in my own pee.
© Ron Wilson Arbuthnot
aka Vee Bdosa the Doylestown Poet
"Mommy's Valentine" is a children's song, sung to the tune of "Miss Lucy Had a
Steamboat". It is intended as an activity for fathers do with children; singing the
song and making the valentine, then together presenting it to "Mommy".
Cut a heart from paper,
Glue on bits of lace,
Give the heart to Mommy-
See the smile on her face!
We are on our porch
in the morning
in the canvas chairs,
drawing in the sunlight,
dreaming.
Hazily lazing over the
wooden floorboards
bleached and weathered
by the sun over time.
And he and I are
having coffee, talking,
gawking at nature and
the people walking up
and down the street.
Our legs stretched out before us,
the garden on our porch: a forest.
Time.....drags.....by like a steamboat
on a river...
Birds on the rail
flick their beaks and tails,
Morning Glories galore
climb the wood
near our door.
It's Summer, we love it.
It's what we wait
all year for.
Excitement filled the air as the calliope played
News spread the famed steamboat was near,
Its whimsical gingerbread trimmings displayed.
The whole town would rush to the esplanade
As the wildly anticipated boat pulled into pier,
Excitement filled the air as the calliope played.
If an overnighter, folks walked the promenade,
Marveling at its size and the exquisite exterior
Its whimsical gingerbread trimmings displayed.
I had heard one could go onboard, if one paid
Even get to see a riverboat show, a premiere.
Excitement filled the air as the calliope played.
What a difference Delta Queen’s arrival made!
Soon she would be decommissioned, the fear
Its whimsical gingerbread trimmings displayed.
I remember well how by the riverbank she lade
Like a fabulous ornate coffin lying upon the bier
Excitement filled the air as the calliope played
Its whimsical gingerbread trimmings displayed.
Written April 6, 2022
[The Delta Queen, a national treasure, has not
travelled the Ohio River on a regular schedule
since the 1970s.]
I became familiar with intriguing chow in the army mess,
Tho' I savored their chipped beef and gravy I must confess!
But some of their culinary efforts left in my mind some doubt,
That my wily recruiter didn't know what he was talking about!
Invariably for lunch and supper much to my dismay,
They plopped a dollop of fruit cocktail upon my battered tray.
The sergeant grinned as he slopped some on my mashed pertaters.
Have you ever eaten fruit coctail mixed with stewed termaters!
The army must've had a surplus of orange marmalade,
And the meatballs would've made a formidable hand grenade!
One never asked about the ingredients in the vegetable stew.
On rare occasions steak was served, but it was tough to chew!
Troopers sat around a picnic table affair and elbows really flew!
Such atrocious language! At Mother's table that would never do!
Signs read, "Take all you want but eat what you took!"
Food dumped in the garbage can could easily upset the cook!
For Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners they put on a spread.
Those I savored but anticipated future meals with dread!
But in todays army "dining rooms", silver and chinaware prevails.
Why! I've heard they serve cordon bleu and even lobster tails!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (© All Rights Reserved)
This poem pretty accurately describes "mess hall" conditions when
I first entered the Air Force in 1948. As years progressed, things
really improved for the better. They are called "dining facilities" today
and to dine in one is a special treat which I have done several times
since my retirement from the Air Force. It is true "dining" and lobster
tail, cordon bleu, steamboat round and such delicacies are de rigueur! If those foods are
not your thing, there is a soup and salad bar, pasta bar, ice cream bar, hamburger bar
and on and on. The decor compares to any fine restaurant. But I don't
begrudge our men and women in uniform one bit - they deserve the best!!
Rivers of life--that's what they are,
They cross our land from near and far,
Helping boats with food go up and down,
Bringing commerce and products to all the land.
Rivers flow-some slow, some fast-
They have brought many inventions from our past,
Fulton's steamboat, the first to be seen--
Started on a river flowing out to the sea.
Now, nuclear energy drives the great ships,
Out on the seas-everyone thinks this is so hip!
But boaters and fishermen still need the rivers,
So as we can see, rivers are still great givers.
Rivers of life-that's what they are-
Carrying trout, bass and other fish near and far,
I love to watch those currents so strong,
Sweeping its loads all night long.
In this land by a lake
mountains and trees
sound of birds
distant voices at play
atop a rock
typing this
for you and for me;
God is loving.
Teaching love through
the fives senses He
adorned us with
such quiet angels
as we saw and toss,
climbing mountains
paddling towards islands
and getting lost in His arms.
Such gentle, bold love.
Kansas City. Barbeque beef. Black power and white power working alongside Power and Light.
Sprint Center, Royals Stadium, many small towns, Crown Center, Fritz train deliveries, a real delight.
Aquarium, Union Station, Lego-land, fountains too beautiful to see all at one setting.
Street car, Steamboat Museum, culture as far as the eyes care to see, a real vetting.
Moving here? Come visit first. Sample our cuisine and head toward First Friday in the bottoms.
If we are not friendly something is wrong, visit summer, spring, or come experience our autumns.
A small town feeling in most of our suburbs, and an eclectic mix of personalities,
We are tearing it up, a mess in a good way, and open to new foreign ideas, so come if you please.
'Bilaam', Refusing to Reflect
'Vav' Begins Most 'Pasukim',
Bent On Fulfilling His Evil Dream,
A Run On Sentence His Steam.
A Goyim Prophet, His Curse,
Agin' Israel Shifted to Reverse,
"How Goodly Your Tents" in Verse.
We Learn Above All to Pause,
Otherwise Hands Become Paws,
Forsaking Torah Laws Like Straws.
'Steamboat Mary' Words Yearnin',
"Don't Listen to Your Own Wheels Turnin'",
"Those Who Bless... Those Who Don't, Mere Vermin.
Elevate Your Fellow Men,
Or to the Lion's Den Descend,
Bilaam Portends Our Failing, to Pretend.
Arrogance Can Destroy Us,
In Humility, Is Employed 'Zecus',
Bless Life, What Hashem Deploys Thus.
Or Disappear Without a Trace,
We Can Live Up to the Human Race,
Expressing Anger or Grace.
By "Tzelem Elochim", Climb the Tree,
Not Grovel in Bilaam's Debris,
Created by Hashem is Our 'Esprit'!
in dogmatic stillness, since uncle died
he's been traversing the phantom dimensions
from endless skyscrapers to artic edges
through hailstorms of indignation
but then he met the pondering moor king
lost in abstractions of his cane castle
and blocked his everlasting glance for good
it was then, when mist(er)y girl showed up
eerie and blossomless, just like anathema
and took the hillside rambler by the hand
astonished spectators watched the lovesick couple
as they descended to the subway of hollow earth
crowded and restless, markedly hectic
everyone thought it's just a plain buffoonery
but no one could break the mundane restrictions
and all once for disrobe that badly sewn uniforms
then, the catastrophe - cyclonic catharsis
earthquake caused by the centipede march
sent the ones with fiery hearts down the drain
likewise the tin soldier and little Lady
and sentenced them to be lone again
Walt Disney was a cartoonist with dreams, visions, ideas.
Interested in animation, he started Laugh-o-Gram studios.
He had a pet mouse there, inspiring Mickey Mouse later.
Steamboat Willie was the first cartoon ever produced with sound.
Walt and his brother Roy created a short of the three little pigs.
This short won Disney Studio an Academy Award in 1933.
It took them four years to produce Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Many people thought the $1.5 million dollar production cost was ridiculous.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first animated feature film.
And she was the first animated full length cartoon created in color.
Snow White was the most successful movie of 1938.
Within a year she had grossed six and a half million dollars, ingenious!