Unfold the threads that braved the storm and sun,
The frayed and faded red, the starlight blue,
Its watch is kept, its noble duty done,
Returned from distant seas where freedom grew.
No longer raised to catch the morning air,
Nor guard the quiet dark with loyal keep,
We gently fold the seams with silent care,
And yield the cloth to honorable sleep.
Let gentle embers take the sacred weave,
As burning threads ascend in quiet grace;
No cause for bitter tears or hearts to grieve,
For honor leaves an everlasting trace.
Though vanished from the halyard to the sky,
Its spirit lives in dreams and that never die.
Edge of wharf diner courting saline tastebuds,
Halyard rope bell hop with a catch,
Grandee gourmet glutton wolfs marinated cod
Like silent sentries in a row
dock pylons await our arrival.
It is low tide, as I step onto the gangway.
Crusty barnacles cling tenaciously
to the pylons, while salt water
laps the rocky shoreline.
A lanky blue heron carefully picks its way
between the fingers of the dock.
The cool breeze picks up
making the boats bob to and fro.
Halyard lines clang
against the masts of sailboats
while weather vanes turn toward
the prevailing northwest winds
The pungent smell of sea salt air
and the cool mist upon my face
evoke thoughts of escape
and high sea adventures.
As ocean breeze wafts gently
I close my eyes, inhale the fresh air
and give myself over to the sea.
Water falling, trickling downward
wet mossy stones shine and glimmer
droplets dancing tumbling onward
Soft tinkles as they head coastward
the sounds echo like a crooner
water falling, trickling downward
A mast standing out, a halyard
of the ships bobbing in fervour
droplets dancing tumbling onward
Streams joining rivers flood backward
the noise loud as it gets faster
water falling, trickling downward
Thunderous waves heading southward
ships tossing, sails all a flutter
droplets dancing tumbling onward
Tidal water becomes wayward
waves flowing over the breaker
water falling, trickling downward
droplets dancing tumbling onward
contest: One of Your Best wriiten06/13/2013
To those who have done prep
Prep up for break, hanging in morning dew
Made fast with sailing twine, awaiting dawn
Brass belaying pin holding halyard to
I glimpse across harbor, Third Fleet’s mowed lawn
My eyes upon OTC, I await
One whistle, the yellow and green closed up
As I snap nylon, open pennant break
Out she flies into the morning, sun up
Tie her off and break third sub, black and white
Three whistles and downward goes, out night light
Rolled and made, starboard, outboard back up tight,
Downhaul tied, gleaming pin, ready for night
My sunrise duty, flags to break and make
In paradise the day begins like cake.
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