Long Topside Poems

"That also has a steep drop off the far side of Home Sweet Hell" said my soulless guide as he pointed in the direction of the nearby screams. 
I could see what resembled silhouettes or...

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"Burnt Aqua"



I can taste the sun
on my tongue
it spills down 
my throat
like burnt aqua
healing the beating frisson

I am ebony inside
shading in my shadow world
some somnolent soul
waking from slumber’s dream dance 
a small death in life...

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she left me defenseless again
for reasons that cannot be spoken
but that can be further diagrammed
worthy of forensic dissection
deep into the cauliflower folds
branching like rivers of lightning
all at once one at a time
lighting up the display...

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Wonder’s Darkness
             by Odin Roark

He knew wonder well
It could cancel fear
And bestow courage
A nexus for survival

A predawn beginning
His solo-climb of the face
Thought crazy...

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With full apprecation of all thing concidered.
In respect to all that are involved..
Its defintion becomes it reason to exsist.
To grow from the seeds: which harvested
shall be fruit to nourish, and seed again for
it's future.
We those...

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Dawn Forever Rising

It starts

Street lights fade
their tiny soft-winged tenants flee
checkerboard facades change
last night's illumined squares now dark
become but yesterday's portals
some polished
some weather streaked
all reaching to reflect first breath

Steam ascends from the city's vacuum
gratings rattle with...

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startled to sudden wakefulness
by the sudden lurch of the ship,
fear rose in my soul
cold, damp hull next to my berth,
I'd give 10 years of my life
to have my feet on solid earth

dark, quiet inboard
only the...

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Take leave of this
Veneer of contented containment 
Go tell your thoughts
Delineate the shades of
Dusk and the dark 
Beneath the ashes sleep
Never renews this life 
Little lived over and
Out like a wick
Talk takes the teacher
Like a...

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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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Chapter One 
Boy into the West 

Dawn upon my cloak 
Urged and so converged were the guns 
Seeding myself with the rest 

I broke in the eye of the Sun 
Settling my mind on the...

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THE BIPOLAR OCEAN

My emotions are like waves in the ocean.
They start out calm and serene.
Smooth sailing and bright sunshine.
Miles of beautiful ocean in between.

Relax my mind and enjoy the day. 
I let my troubles and...

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When the call of the Lord came to Jonah,
“set out for the great land of Nineveh!”
he was angry inside,
and decided to hide,
on a Tarshish bound ship leaving Joppa.

Then the Lord sent a great wind on...

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The busy Moon forgot about the Tide.
She left it out all day upon the sand.
And when it found itself alone topside,
there mischief was immediately at hand.

It washed the muddy Rocks until they shone,
then dragged in...

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The busy Moon forgot about the Tide.
She left it out all day upon the sand.
And when it found itself alone topside,
there mischief was immediately at hand.

It washed the muddy Rocks until they shone,
then dragged in...

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The Anatomy of a Horse (written for children)

Horse's feet have a hoof, the hard part which he can pound, 
back of this is his frog, bottom part that stays off the ground.
Between his hoof and...

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Kindled taste,
Eyes of soften lace.
Sweetened focus into the sky lamp,
Settling comfort into ocean endlessly.
Silky lips of rose-red,
Singing  spirit's ballad of gentle appease.
Harmonious with the season tides,
Waves kissing the alpine rocky cliff bottom.
She firmly fit...

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From topside in the mizzenmast I can see 
the speck of light, candlestick Pigeon Point 
lighthouse on the California coast. 
It’s three degrees off our starboard bow where
treacherous waters break hard against rocky cliffs.
Many mates...

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In the Med aboard the Byrd,
Captain spoke and gave the word.

Rough course ahead, but still on track.
If not on duty, then hit your rack.

For Rob and I, we had to know.
So, topside bound to see...

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we interrupt this program 
          to plug a sponsor without power
 
 
 
 
tired of fishing the choppy banks?
 
otherwise known 'round these parts
as
breakin, --into--the--flow
...

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remember the coating of brutish brandy
you slugged back without a whisper
the whites of your eyes like glaciers
and i smiled and let the warmness
sit on my tongue then slowly roll
down my beating throat, with
a rush of...

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The first snowfall has arrived, carpeting natures grounds
Her pure virgin lay blows me away in total abound

The winters colours now hidden, no more ashen dulls and greys
For a marvel appears before me, I'm smiling on...

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The streets of, Hong Kong, are bustling this fine morning
Out for tea, noodles, a tattoo, and lots of beer
Luckily, the ship was put to pier side mooring
Dropping my laundry at, The Fleet, I have light...

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Farm kids wake up before the roosters
We do our chores twice a day in the dark
Once in the morning, and once in the evening
It is our responsibility; we are not reminded.
We want to do the...

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He fell off topside and floated in the ocean for a while.
He traveled downstream hanging onto a whale with a smile.
Ending up in a river with some beautiful inlets and a song.
The lure of a...

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there is a tree of copper leaves
presentation most fervent in Winter season
after all of crepe and oak are bare
my eyes turn bronze
this tree turns me on
i can’t look away

when pines are flaked with snow
or rendered...

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