Leaving Harbor
The hustle and the bustle of the port is all around
The shouting of the merchants quoting prices by the pound
The throwing of supplies over gunwales is all but done
The time has come for us to leave with our sanity to prevail
Wind has turned and the tide is ebbing it is all that we will need
The boatswain shouts in his deep gruff voice for all aboard to hear
All ashore that’s going ashore or sail the seas with me
Not log now shipmates and we will see the horizon over the sea.
Let go forward let go aft and let the springs go to
Atop the mainmast unfurl the royal and to the starboard dress
Let the wind fill that royal and from the pier we will move Then slowly and majestically we slip into the middle of the port.
Wait for it men the orders come wait for it on my call
With bated breathe we all stand fast at stations pre prepared Then came the order loud and clear from the masters post behind Hard to port now quickly lad and let the mainmast course sail fly
Then our barque to port did turn enough to catch the breeze
Harden up the sheets now men and make that course sail tight
Now pull the halyard on the mizzenmast lets get our stern around Then slowly she obeyed the wind and through the pier heads she sailed
Well done shipmates came the shout we’ve just the bar to cross
Let’s get all the sails up to get the speed you know that we will need
With every man turned the work was was quickly done just ready for the crossing
With wind and tide pushing up on the shallow bar the sea was quite a mess
Fore quite a time it seemed to us that we were going nowhere
the waves were high and most confuse but our ship out shone them all
And passing the bar we did cheer and our time at sea has only just begun
Here we go the skipper said in to your watches fall.
And truly now our voyage has begun with the sailing of our ship Long days under sunny skies are all that we will know
The sound of an albatross occasionally heard above the sea and spray
The horizon is all ours to see my friend and ours to chase all day.
Copyright © Grahame Mahrer | Year Posted 2020
|