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The Second Sight

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The skulking squall suddenly sprung

choosing three little fishing boats as prey.

The sky became leaden with inky clouds,

a merciless gale howled and shrieked

skimming salt spray off the crests.

 

Trio of tiny coloured boats bobbing desperately

like  children's nutshell toys.

Planks straining to scale the dark green walls

then crashing down into the troughs again,

all thinking they were doomed.

 

Two made it  back just in time

to the shelter of the harbour wall,

their women waiting whitefaced on the sand,

but the last caught by a wicked broadside,

twin brothers trapped in the wheelhouse,

as the boat descended to the depths.

 

Their mother wept, starved, and pined away

without a grave to mourn her boys.

So an Ancient Mariner was summoned.

One who in his youthful seafaring days

had survived hurricanes and typhoons,

now a mottled skinny bag of brittle bones,

one tooth and opaque sky blue eyes,

just visible beneath his woollen hat

and turned up greatcoat collar.

 

They pushed him to the cliff top

to sit among sea pinks and eider nests.

He gazed out sightlessly towards the waiting fleet

whispering directions - further to port, ahead,

now starboard, using signal lamps.

 

The boat was found with Ian and Drew

buried together in death as in life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

◄ Joys of Yellow

Happily never after? ►

Comments

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jennifer Malden

Thu 5th Mar 2020 17:54

Thanks Binte Rebecca and Philipos for the likes and kind comments. Glad you liked it. I lived in a tiny village on the East Coast of Scotland as a child, and this was one of the legends of the place.

Thanks again, Jennifer

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Binte Afroz

Thu 5th Mar 2020 07:59

Such a heart touching poem, truly amazing.

<Deleted User> (22292)

Thu 5th Mar 2020 02:52

Wow, really really good!!

Philipos

Wed 4th Mar 2020 23:03

Tres profound is this one. Such a story to unpack. Very much liked the opening and the ensuing tale. Good work indeed. (such a sad tale though throughout) P.

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