Waves pummeled her bow, causing the schooner to rock
as a tempest wind heaved its feral breath into her sails.
The crewmen were steadfast, but had the right to balk
at warring against the strength of wild Nor'easter gales.
If I had seen warnings, we'd be safely moored at a dock.
Thunder unleashed his temper with a vicious tongue.
"Brace for another wave," I yelled to each brave mate!
Some were swept overboard; in the sea they were flung.
Three sailors tossed into the deep by an onerous spate,
when the boom cracked and split, around it had swung.
The furious storm was hellbent on gifting us to Neptune,
but against its rage, we fought with courage and heart.
When sea and sky calmed, I saw by light of a pale moon,
we were lost somewhere in the world, not on any chart.
Weatherworn ship and castaways, stranded on a dune.
10/14/2022 ~ Contest sponsored by L Milton Hankins
Three Stanzas in Quintain (Scillian) Form
Categories:
crewmen, storm,
Form: Quintain (Sicilian)
Leaving the dock, sounding the bells
Captain at stern, strong water swells
Winds give rise, full ahead call
Clear blue sky, no noted squall.
Boston harbor hosting, ships are notable
Schooners to Barque, old and admirable,
Sailing from Europe, Canada and England
Powered by winds, tugboats on hand.
Under the sky, across the sea
Tall ships sail, first view majesty
White masts rise, dressed to parade
Crewmen now salute, flags proudly displayed.
Ropes are taut, winds pass by
Ships now turning, sailors climbing high
Spacious seas accommodate, ships sail proud
Nearer to port, cheers come loud.
Crow’s nest manned, smooth sailing ahead
Through the channel, U.S. Coastguard led,
Viewers on banks, small boats inland
All ships accountable, well in hand.
Quite an honor, sailing high seas
Hands on deck, standing at ease,
Coming into port, Bunker Hill insight
Best of all, tall ships delight.
Categories:
crewmen, celebration,
Form: Rhyme
How black the seas in a pounding storm!
The lanterns were all blown out.
Only the lights within still burned
For crewmen strong and stout.
The flash from the clouds would scarce reveal
The main and the mizzen bare.
Only a jib on the foremast flew
To point her homeward fair.
The captain on the helm withstood
The gale and pelting spray.
“Only an act of God”, he thought
“Could spare us all today!”
His ship was a fine one, swift and sound,
But was failing against the waves.
Only the quarter of a harbor near
Would save this crew so brave.
The squall raised up a fearsome wave
To send them down to hell.
Only to give the captain view
Of a lighthouse o’er the rail.
That pulsing sentinel guided him
Through rocks and shallow shoal.
Only to bring them safely home,
A haggard twenty souls.
Only a Lighthouse
By: Dean Wood
7/19/2017
Quatrain
1st Place
Lighthouse Contest
Sponsor: Eve Roper
Categories:
crewmen, sea,
Form: Quatrain
Words being more than a mare thought
Thinking with an understanding within sought
Education being a source for an intellectual vibe
It’s all about feeling inspired and just stride
Writing by your own abide
The thinker establishing what’s in the mind
Subjects upon subjects in categories combined
The theory of one’s sentence
An idea that comes up in an instance
What you see in what you write
A storm shaken ship being guided by a distance lighthouse
The same tall ship being tossed going through the god controlling waves
The crewmen praying for the waves to behave
Words telling the story
The wonder of victory in its glory
Words proclaiming new heights
At the same time word blank becoming a plight
But words will lead you in what to do
But here is a clue, “Just write” and you will pursue.
Categories:
crewmen, dedication, destiny, devotion, education,
Form: Ballad
Talk about a frightful flight
I think it was last Thursday night
I was heading out of town for work
Our flight attendant went berserk
Instead of the normal spiel they gave
This lady starts to rant and rave
Her own airline she really trashes
Screams about bad luck and crashes
No, it was not the friendly patter
She came across as a Mad Hatter
The other crewmen try to stop her
Eventually we had to hop her
Hold her down, call 911
This all before the flight’s begun
We had to taxi to a gate
As on the local cops we wait
Something had snapped, she couldn’t hack it
They took her off in a straight jacket
They took our numbers, took our names
Loaded us on other planes
No explanation of what just happen
Perhaps recruiters once were nappin’
All in all I now surmise
Unfriendly fly the friendly skies
Mdailey 3/10/12
Categories:
crewmen, social, travel,
Form: Rhyme
Retrorockets blasted
Spaceship settled down
Soft landing on a planet
Dust plumes swirling ‘round.
Crewmen tested atmosphere
Before exiting the door
Donned cumbersome spacesuits
With a planet to explore.
Soon, strange life forms appeared
One tall, one nimble and small
Each wore purple leaves, from purple trees –
that’s all.
The small one plucked purple pears
But before she ate, gave one to her mate
The spacemen shouted quickly--
“Stop! Please wait!”
--James Tate
Categories:
crewmen, science fiction
Form: Rhyme