Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Wild, Wild Sea





(For Dad)

I saw it again this evening,
A black sail in a pale yellow sky.
And just as before in a moment,
It was gone where the grey gulls fly.

If it should happen again I shall worry
That only a strange ship could fly,
And my sanity scans the horizon
In the light of a darkening sky.

That night as I walked in my slumber
I waded into the sea strand,
And I swam with the moon and her lover
Until I lost sight of the land.

I swam 'till the night became morning
A black sea in the reddening sky.
Found myself on the deck on a rolling ship,
So far where no grey gulls fly.

All around me was silence
As if mocking my frail human hopes.
And a question mark hung in the canvas
For the wind that had died in the ropes.

I may have slept for an hour,
I may have slept for a day
For a woke in a bed of white linen
And the sky was the colour of clay.

At first just a rustle of canvas,
And the gentlest breath on my face.
But a galloping line of white horses
Said that soon we were in for a race.

The gentle sigh turned to a howling,
And the grey sky she angered to black,
And my anxious eyes searched the horizon
With the gathering sea at my back.

Did I see the shade of a sailor
On the bridge through the wheelhouse pane?
Held fast to the wheel of the rocking ship
As I squinted my eyes in the rain.

For the ship had turned into the wind,
Against the storm to brace
And underneath the sailor's hat,
I saw my father's face.

If a prayer today is spoken
Please offer it for me
When the bridge to heaven is broken,
And you've lost on the wild wild sea
Lost on the wild wild sea...

3 comments:

Gizmosav said...

Hey Satchie,
You have one very special dad...
Please give him a great big newfie kiss from us...we miss you guys...
hopefully one day soon you will be riding the big sea to my house to come and visit me....I have a big yard for us to play in....
Take Care you guys...hugs to Androol too....
Gizzy

Lizzie Skyrocket said...

Hey Satchie. My mom, Hilary Hyland (also known as Lizzie Skyrocket)finally went to bed. Teddy Bear (Mr. Ted) & I are going to have a Newf party tonight. Anyway, I wanted to thank you for putting my picture & article (Feb) on your blog about my visit to a school in Manassas, Va. My mom likes to talk about her book,"The Wreck of the Ethie". Sometimes I sleep (& snore)through the boring parts. What I do like is all the attention I get from the kids.
I liked your Training Tips. I flunked out of obedience school. After my first class, the next time I refused to get out of the car. It's hard for me because my brother, Mr. Ted is perfect. He's a rescue Newf & I'm a little bit tired hearing about his former sad story. I was born in Saskatchewan & now live in Virginia. As a matter of fact, I have to go now...I just thought of some devious ways to frame Mr. Ted.
Your Pal,
Ethie ( Miss Mouse)
P.S. Nancy Pelosi is a cat lover

Anonymous said...

King of the Sea