Long Starboard Poems
Long Starboard Poems. Below are the most popular long Starboard by PoetrySoup Members. You can search for long Starboard poems by poem length and keyword.
Set the sea and anchor detail sounded over the one M C
Soon there would be some time off for us all
Hustling the lines, securing the tugs
Port and starboard divisions awaiting liberty call
Hookers and con artists on the piers
New port of call but the crowd is the same
Going into town to have a few beers
Same old gang but it's a brand new game
Don't know how it happened but he must have got mad
Probably when I was hitting on his girl
My nose and his elbow met, I was bleeding bad
I tried to smile at her but my head was in a whirl
I guess I was stupid, but just having fun
Over a period of time I'd been in a few fights
At least the bleeding had slowed down a little
I'm glad I wasn't in my dress whites
Manners are important when you're out on the town
So I thought I would add a new twist
I said excuse me sir, there's someone I would like you to meet
Let me introduce your face to my fist
Before the introduction I heard something crack
When I woke up I was on my back
My shipmate asked what I paid for the black eye
He said it sure was a beauty
The cost was steep, ten days restriction
And twenty hours extra duty
He said man you've really taken the fall
But I knew I'd be ready again, come liberty call.
Absolutely fiction.
~
I’m going to sea in a blueberry boat,
macaroon waves I will sail
Far past the girls and the buoys I’ll float,
maybe spout off to a whale
My crew at the ready but still half a sleep,
I’ll have to turn on the charm
Wake up, look alive, for this water is deep,
might have to set an alarm
I stand at the helm with both hands on the wheel,
the compass is pointing due east
Embracing the salt water breezes I feel,
we haven’t moved in the least
All hands on deck, yes, you can use your feet,
who left the anchor in place
No wonder we’re stuck here, dead last in the fleet,
we’ve got to pick up the pace
Finally we’re moving, the sails filled with air
and I with my spyglass in hand
Searching for islands and mermaids to share,
all just a part of my plan
This ocean of peppermint twists as it turns,
currents of grape lead the way
Lemon drop sunshine as bright as it burns,
nausea sets in from the sway
When there off the starboard, I think that’s the bow,
a very strange shape does appear
It’s Davy Jones locker but I don’t see how,
what is it doing up here
It’s then I look down, water up to the hilt
over the sides of my boat
I now see the problem in how it was built
who knew blueberries can’t float
I entered a contest, thought it would be fun,
wrote out my poem in ink
A day out at sea on a boat in the sun,
never once thought it would sink
Hey Nina, you did this, I hope you are near,
it seems that my courage might slip
So toss me a rope for it’s perfectly clear
I ain’t going down with this ship
9/13/19
Written for the: Welcome To My Random World Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Nina Parmenter
In those bleak fields that so quietly lie - stilled as graves,
Between where the thin wind creaks and upwardly heaves,
Unseen feet can sometimes be heard
Shuffling through the old woods discarded leaves.
For i have seen those strange distant lights
That detach themselves from heavens spilling crowds;
When dropping over the blindside of the little ridge
They rise to leap from cloud to cloud.
Impossible angles of inexplicable darting momentum -
Inwardly gyrating wheels now ingeniously turning;
Marvelous these the strange crafts of unknown design...
Yes - I have seen the night skies burning!
For well i remember as a reckless child
How i stole out to ascend that one forbidden hill:
Cast deep plans, set the clock ticking accordingly,
Rose, wrapped myself against Novembers raw chill.
Deep inside the Beech-hanger the Plough was struggling,
And over the despairing holt a devisive breeze...
As, of a sudden, on the edge of swirling darkness -
Showered particles upon vapourous ethers so violently seized!
Oh the hissing bolts of sizzling electrons -
Brilliance of colours like a dying meteors last rites!
Anti-Graviton paradox of mastered equational conundrum
Igniting the latent freeze within winters sharp night.
Radiant orb held aligned by polar-opposites forceful lines,
Spinning upon a singular point with such consummate ease;
Roaring furiously liken fabled dragon of Arthurian legend,
Hot breath licking across lines of illuminated trees.
Momentary seconds that crept alongside an age enraptured
Amidst tumbling thoughts of - "Just another Alien abductee"!
Then, gently tilting starboard, accelerating smoothly away,
Vanishing over the stacks and tiled rooftops of nearby Walton-Lea.
Often have i wistfully pondered in ever hopeful, watchful years:
What was it so witnessed as it hung before me in suspended flight?
And - with many cramming thoughts - groping for answers sought -
Recalling the wondrous moment of such an awe-inspiring sight!
Footprints on a sandy beach,
will be washed away by morning.
There's a storm out on the open sea,
A thunderclap - a warning!
A lonely ship is tossed about,
and struggles in the hue,
its motley crew begins to shout
at the wicked card they drew...
The ship takes on a starboard list,
the crew jumps in the drink.
Lightning strikes the wooden mast,
the ship is doomed to sink.
Fear fills the hearts of those
from captain down to yeoman,
but yo this rugged life they chose
not heeding sign nor omen.
Are you really safe from shark attack,
while standing on the shore?
A mighty ship in port is safe,
but that's not what ships are for...
Copyright © 2007
light
frost whitens
the frozen verge-
inert below,summer
awaits
under
the hedge a
welcome haven-
down my neck raindroplets
trickle
dozing
on the lawn
St Swithans day-
large round spots splash into
my lap
missing
in action-
his memory
clipped to a bedroom
mirror
a kiss
an affair-
separation
drowns into memory's
abyss
the elk
cub misses
the herd's retreat-
a lone wolf howl calls to
the pack
splendour,
luxury
and much fine art-
in abstentia-the
gentry
a school
of dolphins-
on the starboard
a synchronised swimming
display
winter
turns to spring
high in the trees-
the rookery erupts
in noise
Roasted
chestnuts on
bonfire embers-
forties recollections
alight
smitten
by a smile
the warmth of love
engaged and now lives on
engraved
five toes
and a pad
imprint the snow-
hunger brings a stranger
at night
Valencia, a return to the Spanish coast, 1966
Nineteen and running wild, searching
Conversation turns to idealism, liberty expiring
Port and starboard, hand shake, maybe again
Two nights, same bar, Listened to the stories
Eleven years since he’d seen home
Adventure sets a fire in a young man’s soul
A need to spread your wings
We’d meet by chance again in Barcelona
Sorry mate, need a diversion, see those two.
Texas bar, broken chairs, bottle thrown
Turmoil and the back door’s open
Saw him smile and wave goodbye
Yes sir, those two over there, don’t know why
Damn that’s funny
Never saw him again, unspoken friendship.
Just wonder sometimes.
Tropical breezes waft across a sea of empyrean bliss as
a lost ship, the The Golden Dragon,
cast it’s indigo shadow upon turquoise waters.
Parrots preening one another,
were the welcoming party for weary travelers.
whispering leaves on trees twisted with the winds of ages,
graced the morning light upon the shore.
Down Anchor and a shoreward visit to
this seraphic isle, gave them a chance
to enjoy an idyllic splendor, they’d never before seen;
Fruit and nuts were gathered and some small animals for sustenance and a much-need good night’s sleep allowed them time to reflect, reconnect with one another and re-chart their course.
The preening pair watched
as the ship weighted anchor, turned starboard,
and vanished into thin air.
I saw a ghostly galleon as it sailed under a sailor’s moon.
The night was a ribbon of darkness, drawing a veil over a sea of
gloom.
Her sails were tattered and torn, her rigging in disarray.
Her watch bell hung in an eerie silence and on a windless sea she lay
The decks were littered and dirty, her rails in disrepair
The cabin door was rotten and broken and left to the ocean air.
A crew of boney sailors and a phantom captain at the wheel.
She sails on a sea to nowhere, a ship whose fate is sealed
We passed her on our starboard side as I felt myself began to fall
Did I really see her, was she really there at all?
Get out the vote?
I can't I'm on a boat.
Mixing paints, red and blue.
My political flag is purple,
That's right,
Go 'head and sue.
Once I pull into harbor,
Sure I'll consider Obamer...
Sorry it's been awhile
Is my pronunciation vile?
Do we see the forest for the trees?
Or the humans in the parties?
I planned on throwing one once ashore.
Liberal, conservative, hippie, chiropractor--just don't be a bore!
My wet dog Lester whimpers for me to run for Senate.
I tell him I have no agenda, no ten point plan, just wanna see the Cubs win the pennant.
He paw-clatters starboard, ears turned away.
My first speech met with dogged disinterest as we floated through the bay.
"Monkeys in the zoo," I say as I zip-cast my line.
"That's all they are, Lester," and I felt to say it rather fine.
"Monkeys, may be," Lester replied as he jaw-snapped some flies.
"But the cages are open, and they've taken to the streets, all wearing ties."
We'll make it to port one day, Lester and I.
When the game is done, and the shouting has ceased
And the towns are painted purple
As the monkeys look on, in disbelief.
Yellow Words—Used 10 times in the poem
Under the warm yellow sun
floating on the calm Yellow Sea
fishing for the sweet tasting yellow fin tuna.
My mouth waters at the thought of
tuna steaks slathered in spicy yellow mustard
while my old yellow lab snoozing on
my bright yellow rain slicker will have his share covered
in a yellow egg yolk sauce.
I tie the yellow lure to the leader anticipating
a rugged fight with the ferocious tuna.
A wayward yellow canary, blown to sea by the wind,
lands on my cabin roof. Perhaps I will have good luck.
I wear my yellow tinted sunglasses and look to starboard as
I prepare to stalk the elusive tuna.