Long Astern Poems

Soon, the sun was lying low, a bright full moon was now on show
Santa switched on Walnut’s glow… “Ho Ho Ho and away we go.”
Walnut played along and led the team of reindeer and their...

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Strategically placed when raised 
Upwards
By your masterful and well 
Practiced hand.
To mingle with ever changing 
Skylines 
That frown down with arrogant 
Scowls
Upon the indigenous populous of 
This just and tolerant island.
To study and pontificate upon...

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Once upon a day, two pretty women strolled down a pastoral park that offered their cheeks the most countrified caress and their eyes an orchard of assorted pomegranates. 
After succumbing to weariness, the two courtly...

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I sit down in my cold, stone seat and shuffle sheets of music,
Arranging them in different ways from fast-paced to acoustic.
Spanning collective scales, bars and notes and lines,
I've read through them all before at least...

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One day—
The sea will be my backyard
Every morning, standing upon the deck
Of the one called Going Numb
A “Greatest Dad” mug in one hand
My last vice burning orange in the other

I will watch the sun rise...

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The Flag of the British Merchant Navy 

The Battle of the Atlantic

We’ve heard of the famous Mighty Hood that was sunk by a Bismarck shell
We know how many men were lost and the Skippers name...

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Cap'n & the Wench  *part the fifth*

Says the Wench to the Cap'n " We'll dabble in Real Estate!" 
So says the Cap'n to the Wench " 'Twould seem 'tis our Fate!

As Tales are often...

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" SouthWind "

'Twere it surely a wind from sultry hot south~
She which 'twere cause for all this night's play~
That wind which lifted drink to my mouth~
What may this be.... the Devil ye say!

Nay & nay...

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Continued from The Eye of the Sea part 4

Becalmed we were for three days more,
Then the wind began to rise,
At the Captain’s bidding, we set to the rigging,
Eyes firmly upon the prize.

But, ‘Something’s awry!’ the...

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Sam Ebenezer
a sad ol' geezer
was lamenting his shrinkage of late:
my worthless ding-a-ling
is a bell without ring
my manhood in diminishing state
 
From whence I salute
is thin as a flute
and soft to the touch as cashmere
I search...

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The dark and moonless night at sea
reflected well his mood,
from where he stood out by the rail
the ship seemed not to move.

He was gazing far away
into years gone by,
where there resided youthful joy
to recapture if...

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I am to him a Stradivarius, a treasured violin
His bow expertly caresses my supple strings
My body moans when tucked beneath his chin
Revving to his rhythmic pulse, my heart sings

I am the delicate ivory he strokes...

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Lemon tinted phase
gilded skyline blown
by ethereal fused mist 
eager bard imbued 
opal dream flotilla  
beyond tarnish while
flash point chariots 
of gleam-well canvass
astir or astern perforce 
taunt a hued vase 
porcelain image fest
for staunch earthbound...

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she made a desperate leap but once more missed the boat

had to absolve her failure by swimming in ablution creek
the water was murky and viscous but therefore she floated
the sheen on her skin blessed her...

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Spaceward: genesis, obedience, fathomless: universe.
In Cerulean: lambent, sullen, discernible: Close ignite.
With harmony: hypaethral, skyward, aether: womb hiccups 
Whelm time: serenade, stardust, drizzles: diamond dust,
Overall trends: extinguish, slumber, wonder: celestial hymn,
By extolling: Argyle, twinkle, soothing: ...

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Cast off the mooring ropes at bow and stern
Head out into the early morning mist
Hoist the big mainsail, free the jib, and turn
Feeling the filling canvas make her list

The venerable diesel chugs and splutters
Its smoky...

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The Linda-Marie

I venture on down to the harbor, smelling the salt of the sea
Where waiting in anticipation is my sloop the Linda-Marie
In silence she sits while I board her, and cast her lines aside
Like a...

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Now speak to me my heart and urge me forth
in marching beat my lungs to breathe the air;
too few the years contracted to a span
'ere time and days decline as sun set fair.

My swaddling now...

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For love of night I claimed my fears released them to the moon 
like a crawfish in the sand I sifted through my magical runes 
seeking symbols and answers but only finding the quiet croon...

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This journey fraught of desperate dreams

Within the grip of swelling grays
The Southern Cross astern now shines
Ever close of darkened bays
Adrift of lost and endless times

Sails now hoist, direction’s wind
I hear the angry waves a’ crash
Spume...

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Lemon tinted phase
gilded skyline blown
by ethereal fused mist 
eager bard imbued 
opal dream flotilla  
beyond tarnish while
flash point chariots 
of gleam-well canvass
astir or astern perforce 
taunt a hued vase 
porcelain image fest
for stoic earthbound...

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The tempest kiss of seaweed miss.
Her temper heard ~ his heart stirred.
     His ship astern and fast.
    The siren’s scorn lambaste;
Blind youth’s reality is blurred.

The satin hair of...

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Queen Bess's Uniform

We didn’t want the frostbite
We didn’t want the burns
We didn’t want to leave our homes
And families far astern.
We didn’t like the future
As we grimly sailed away
But we wore Queen Bess’s Uniform
And did it...

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~ This poem is written in the 8686 syllable count style of one of my favorite Emily Dickenson poems, 'I Felt a Funeral in My Brain.'


'pon roiling sea a fierce storm brewed
  waves crashed...

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When the time arrives for me to depart
from the sunlit harbors of the living.
Take me aboard a navy fighting ship
and carry me back again to the sea.

Order the boatswain to construct a skid
made of wood...

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