Long Mizzen Poems

So bridge to bridge, of other things speaking
Of which my comedy does not take care,
We walked; and reached the top, when seeking
For watching the next slit, then we stopped there
Malebolge to see and crying vain;
And...

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Spider’s Rigging
“I had resolved on a voyage around the world, and as the wind
on the morning of April 24, 1895 was fair, at noon I weighed
anchor, set sail, and filled away from Boston, where the...

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All is calm, all is at rest where once a storm had brew. No spray of mist, no violent torrent, nor upheaval of swelling wave to creek timbers or wash men over.

There was a calmness...

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" Rime of the Ridiculous Mariner "

{warbled to the Merry Tune: Jingle Bells!}

Jingle Bells & Flyin' Hulls
All sheets in so tight~
Yikes Ahoy! There's the ploy!
Sail right through this night!

Run downwind beat to weather
fall off as...

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Here we are in 1650, which is ten minutes to five
swing the wheel to the West, which is left,
put your sun cream away, man the mizzen and the stays
as we set off for some murder...

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They said she sails forever the seas off Cape Horn:
See her and wish to God you never was born. 
Laugh if you wish but  there’s  countless bones  
And hulls been sent to...

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Cap'n & the Wench *part the second*

Says the Wench to the Cap'n "I thinks I'll have Me a Tequila!" 
So says the Cap'n to the Wench "Go right ahead Me Dear~
I'll be hard a'lee ta...

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Abaft the beam the aberration spun
Below the turbid surface like a pearl
Commanding all attentions, overrun

Dissolving as colloidal midst the swirl
Encircled tons of matter as dissolved
Fierce vortices, toroidal in their whorl

Gesticulating with his mates, involved
Hypotheses suffused...

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On an azure expanse without prospect or sail
        the debris of my ship rent asunder from gale
           ...

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The Man O'War HMS Arcturus dominated the billowin' main!
Foes were fearful of closin' battle with 'er should they ever deign!
What a magnificent and imposin' sight was she with 'er riggin' full o'sail,
As she raced to...

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'Twas dawn and all the sky blazed red.
The tell-tales snapped like waving flags.
The keening wind was full of dread;
all surplus sails were stowed in bags.
 
Though somewhere on the restless main
the sea was growling in...

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The table is laid and untouched
  Blankets of silence hold sway,
The table is laid and untouched,
  Day becomes day after day
The lamplight’s burning out. 
  The floorboards creak and shrink
The lamplight’s burning...

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I was born in a landlocked getaway town
Where all the colors were black, gray, or brown.
Jobs at the steel mill were ratcheting down.
It was not in my future to stay.

So, I took a long walk...

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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
...

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My youth was like a treasure map
in finest detail drawn,
experiences marker buoys,
of perils would they warn.
Islands of opportunity
places I dreamt of most
all littered with ambition
scattered flotsam on the coast.
Routes were laid and lines were drawn
all...

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Chase the breakers out of the harbour
before the customs boat appears.
Strike the sails and tack to larboard 
then comes the old familiar fear.
Will they run us, or will they gun us?
Damn these sails, catch the...

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Billowing white
A tall masted ship
Gleaming wet
Sped on
In to a setting sun
 
Mizzen and top gallants flying
Such golden light
Fell upon a ship
That sped on 
In to the setting sun
 
Billowing white
Translucent too
Such golden llight
Fell upon a...

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