Sailboats Poems

The South Bay

No glamour here in the South Bay
where function and industry reign 
just an occasional seagull is seen
gliding over steel grid power lines. 

The daily westerly winds whistle
swaying a small fleet of sailboats 
buoys bob along a mariner’s course
as he navigates the currents. 

Ships of all shapes and sizes 
quietly line the edges of the bay
docked or moored in place
patiently waiting their turn at sea. 

An unearthly silence lingers 
around the salt flats that arise
staking their claim at the south shore 
a monument to the “bitter end”. 

It is peaceful here…without pretense
where the hum of traffic is heard 
endlessly moving along an offramp 
while the random seagull flies above.

Summertide Pairings

cinnabar and cinnamon
strawberries and cherries
apricots and luscious mango
windchimes and crystals
hummingbirds and butterflies
sailboats and sunsets
summer nights and nuptials



AP: 3rd place 2025

Home

We all have beginnings somewhere,
a place where the soul first took root
and drew its history, fixed a compass 
point, a pin in a map to mark its home.
For me it was here
where the horizon began
in a haze of mangrove trees
and broad tidal flats
and boats bellied in mud 
when the sea sucked back the river
leaving its gums grinning 
under a warm sun. It was here
where my ancestors landed
more than a century and a half ago.

Now manicured to prime real estate,
the tides keep to an orderly flow 
within grassy banks overseen
by multi million dollar views.
The mangrove forests have gone,
the swamps sanitised to lawn.
I look across the glistening reaches
of a man made lake to where 
the slow drift of sailboats scrape 
the bottom of an evening sky.
All seems out of place, not home
and yet I mull as to whether 
there is any other beyond this one, 
beyond the little sailing boats
and the barking dog nearby.

Counterintuitive

It's late, lo. I knew that the water I saw was mirage.
This is a world where, often, facts and fancies camouflage
Depths that seem unfathomable are shallow when measured.
Within wombs of tombs that seem empty, riches are treasured.

The structure that looked like a passage was, in truth, a wall.
Doesn’t my crammed glance make the earth resemble a ball?
How could crows dine guavas at night? Lo, they were mega-bats.
Waiting under guava trees, I didn't know, were black cats.

Peeping through the brick holes of Kutab Minar, I feel giddy.
While I could reach the top, are the stairs now playing kiddy?
Each move of being is filled with likes, dislikes, dreads, and fears.
Equally in joys and sadness, as though raindrops flow tears

Running shoes, highway lanes, sleepless sleep, and suppressing thoughts
Each act, as though steering sailboats, becomes threads full of knots.
Is this shop I find between this and this bush mere confusion?
Aren't facts of truth tested in hot furnaces of illusion?

I Breathe Lies

Betwixt our deceptive connection
Lies told, to always end in
I’ll never have a profound perspective
As my skepticism results in your grin

When our paths crossed
Like two sailboats in a panoramic sea
I believed you were mannerly
Though, sprouted unexpectedly was your immorality

My standpoint was already set 
My conception was that you’d abet
To all the curves, bumps, and facets of me
Though you’d never devote to me
You’d only break me to debris

Every word transmitted from your “soul”
Carried no true sentimental worth
Yet I believed you, over my mind you had control
Desiring for your concealed lies to rebirth

Lies and gas-lighting were brought upon me
Despite your affectionate expressions
I thought truth be told, that I was free
But I’m now trapped under your early impressions

Doubting and doubting your false affection
Perhaps you don’t know how to express emotion?
But deep inside, I know that’s untrue
That I’m just someone to be used, at least to you

Though acceptance is quite challenging for me
I’m unsure of why I still trust you
As you treat me like nobody
Though these lies will forever pursue.

Our Family Vacation at Pine Tree Inn

    A few scattered yellow wood cabins
       a swimming pool surrounded by pines
    
    a pier to fish from, a lake not to go in
       ‘cept for the stinkpots* and sailboats                *i.e., motorboats

    marshmallow roasts by the campfire at dusk
      a ghost story or two to relate

    along with the hotdogs and burgers that day
      the ghosts evicted whatever we ate

sailing away

sailboats glide on lake 
catching sun's attention 
reflecting off water

A Voyage To Unknown

Birds twitter, birds croon to each other,
I watch life moving at a lulling slower pace,
Rose bushes leisurely sway, breeze converses
With the rustling leaves, clouds float languidly
In endless azure, 
Sailboats sailing in emerald ocean, 
Picturesque, perpetual, blissful!

Life is an endless stream, 
A voyage to unknown,
Life is made up of impossible dreams...
I gaze at a dreamcatcher, unachieved goals
No longer make me feel bleakly miserable, or discontent,
My life is full with lilac aspirations, not failed achievements! 
Does it matter in
The ultimate scheme of things, we are
All pawns in the chessboard of an
Unknown skilled magician, who smiles at our arrogance, 
Blesses all his children..
Unaware of the profound truth of life ~
And Death!

Please don't destroy my beautiful day

Don't destroy my beautiful day
The Azaleas are blooming, the chipmunks play
The roses unique, the hydrangea white
From the west comes an unusual clear, pure, light.

Mr. Atta, don't destroy my life and my day
Holy war drives you, ideals can't betray
But after work in the World Trade, 93rd floor
I was planning to surf off the Jersey shore.

Putin don't ruin my beautiful day
The fields are green, the sky a pearl gray
A missile hits a target, the target's my home
All I really asked was to be left alone

Sci-Rebels please don't glue yourself to the floor
The planet won't mend, but your hand will get sore
Whatever the cause, within reason please stay
So the rest of us can enjoy this beautiful day.

Please don't destroy my beautiful day
The sunrise is amazing across Casco bay
The sailboats come in, wheeling sea gulls cry
And though beauty must end, and humans must die
Don't be part of the problem, a runaway train
No peace for mankind when the fire's in your brain.

Reverie in Tranquility

I drown myself in reverie and retrospection, 
when on calm tranquil mornings,
chirping birds entertain my eager senses,
and flowers serenade me away with their ambrosial fragrance...
My mind gets fully occupied with the mysteries of the universe, 
which I will never be able to comprehend!

Birds twitter gleefully to each other,
squirrels scurry in their grey coats,
The world moves slowly, in a lulling pace.
clouds float languidly in the azure sky,
sailboats cruising on the emerald ocean,
anchor not in sight!
Nature in eternity - blissful, picturesque, serene!

I wonder about the eventual truths in life...This is a journey to unfamiliar, uncertain...in ultimate scheme of things, we are all pawns in the chessboard of an unknown skilled magician, who smiles at our arrogance, blesses all his children unaware of the profound truth of life and Death!

We all are on our odyssey…Only at a temporary harbour we pause,
Steer through blissful moments,
Sorrows and misery,
Heartbreak and despair,
We smile, we bleed, we mourn!
We feel elation in the tangerine trifles of a voyage...
The journey makes the difference in a life well-lived,
Not the desired end!

The Storm Swept Through

I often write about the ocean. I went to see a museum exhibit, yesterday, “Dutch Art in a Global Age.” The paintings of sailboats on the sea caught my attention. Breathtaking and romantic, admired them up closely, then from the center of the room. One artist was Ludolf Bakhuizen and his painting was “Ships in a Gale on the IJ before the City of Amsterdam.”

THE STORM SWEPT THROUGH

the storm swept
through
sails white & gray

  clouds
    competing

ebb & flow
of catawampus rain

the heave-ho
of the hulls
crashing
         on
malevolent waves

the sky falls
squeezes out
thunderous soak

cantankerous whitecaps
        like
moon craters
              rise & fall

cerulean hope
bleeds through
  as
the sun bruises the
    hullabaloo

lightning shows
             off
a couple more
  times
than its lullaby
hushes

and the boats
gently rock

as if the infant
is sound asleep

the sea is smooth
it is a smooth operator
a breathing body
of fickle water

Fun In The Sun

Laid out on the beach in that warm tropical sun
Winter is on hold, while I am here to experience heaven and have some fun
The ocean waters with their bright colours call out to me to take a dip
First I must finish my mai tai with one last sip
My whole body I hope soon will turn a golden brown
Music fills the air with its soothing sounds
As I hit the water those rushing waves came in to welcome me
Never in my entire life have I felt so carefree
Out on the horizon, sailboats glide by with the help of a gentle breeze
I am going to savor every moment before I must return to the deep freeze
My camera is full of great pictures, giving me access to memories I will never forget
Leaving winter for summer is something you will never live to regret

Dreams Soar

When I open my eyes at quiet dawn,
I see my dreams soar in the horizon.

If my dreams, soft as petals of flower,
luminous, scintillating, bright they are,
They shine in their captivating bower,
my dreams waft me away to distant far!
If my dreams flow like a humming river,
ridged rough hard pebbles are no barrier,
To meet mighty ocean it travels far
through steep hills and abundant plains, wander ! 

Part of our existence - magical dreams,
float and cruise like sailboats in the vast sea,
shine as rainbow, meandering like streams.
I hold them to my heart and set them free.

Spring Sonata

A melodious symphonic journey by the rose-bush….
No more waiting…air is crisp and delightful again,
Mystical breeze waltzing, whistling romantic stories,
Pristine clouds floating like sailboats in the ocean,
Grasses gleefully swaying showcasing their exuberant colours,
            Velvety and silky to tread on,
Evergreens feel despondent and lonely no more,
                 Spring is at the door!

Aquamarine horizon with crimson hue,
Drowns my senses in lilac reverie,
Koels and Bulbuls unhesitatingly tweet songs!
Swirling vibrant colours of rainbow in palette...
Fragrant graceful flowers waking up from slumber,
Sky is singing an ebullient tale, and...

Faraway sonata of a season whispers
Dreams soothing and gentle on my eyes!
Spring birds cooing a celestial melody of sitar,
Strings plucked gently with fingers fine,
Floating clouds play violin with their gliding movements,
Breeze paints a picture of grace and harmony of Cello,
Leaves murmur an ensemble of a deeply expressive flute,  
    A memorable sonata is created divine!

Our Trades

Life on the windward side of our island,
at times, the tradewinds persuade downpour,
still, the sun light's gods and goddesses tanned.

Sailboats adrift, surfers thrill life ashore,
nightlife widespread mingling tingles aura,
at times, the tradewinds persuade downpour,

Fauna ground or inflight abound flora,
gossamers swaying entertain loved ones,
nightlife widespread mingling tingles aura,

Albatross' solitaries north isle runs,
regulars gadflies surrealists' gawking,
gossamers swaying entertain loved ones,

Infamy physicist Stephen Hawking,
come visit a true Paradise like those,
regulars gadflies surrealists' gawking,

Cameras clicking smiling faces pose,
life on the windward side of our island,
come visit a true Paradise like those,
still, the sun light's gods and goddesses tanned.

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