In the Med aboard the Byrd,
Captain spoke and gave the word.
Rough course ahead, but still on track.
If not on duty, then hit your rack.
For Rob and I, we had to know.
So, topside bound to see the show.
Ship was pitching left and right.
Walking bulkheads with all our might.
Reached the fantail, but not alone.
Several Squids were standing prone.
With arms akimbo, we latched on.
With watered walls, the sun was gone.
Then up those walls to Neptune's peak,
To witness the chaos we did seek.
Shining sunburst on rolling seas,
With crashing waves and salty breeze.
Right back down to where we started.
Loved the rush the seas imparted.
Port to starboard, we felt the pause.
Ballast held to level the cause.
But when it froze for way too long,
Gut met throat to stifle song.
We broke from chain, one by one.
Back to bunks, like all had done.
Hours later, with humbled pride,
Will always reflect on natures ride.
Categories:
bulkheads, 11th grade, 12th grade,
Form: Rhyme
Ocean blue, upon lazy waves I share this tale
Of a behemoth beast- the color of death, lifeless and pale
Forty miles long he was, from snout to tail
A frightenin' thing onboard a fifty foot barque 'n' sail
Mindin' our own bi'sness we was when this thing hit
smashin the bulkheads water comin' in- "Oh Sh**"!
Off came my tongue bloody 'n' hurtin'- that which I bit
Hull cracked - middle o' that boat, it shur did split!
Dunno what made that crazy ole' whale think we was bait
That look in his eye shore was full o' hate
Mebbe he was just hungry- 'cause Billy Bob he ate,
Soon 'nuff that whale spit him out, guess he just didn't like the taste!
Categories:
bulkheads, funny,
Form: Couplet
Only silence dresses her rigging now
To the call of the bosun’s whistle
Her hatches now stand locked and secure
Where long past sailors once lingered
She is the last of the old frigates
Moored in the shallows of Charlestown
Board her and hear her echoes of valor
Haughtily anchored her colors humbly fly
No blemishes on her hull show her battles
Her carronades still sit silently waiting
As she floats mythically at ease
For a moment I can hear the great moans
Her keel and sailors cresting Atlantic waves
To Captain Hulls orders to come about
And charge on the enemy ship Guerriere
On her decks I feel the plight of her dead
Hearing stories of centuries old bulkheads
Astounding feats of a morose pride
To have brought their foe to capitulate
Now she stands tacit though ever grand
And still on her decks and deep in the bowels
The mighty spirit of U.S.S. Constitution dwells
A monument of endurance softly whispering
“Lest we remember long forgotten sacrifices…”
Categories:
bulkheads, history, inspirational, loss, mystery,
Form: Free verse