Poetry Poem: The old Mariner

To the wind and the waves

With the mast in the sky

Sails pulled taught and the seagulls cry

My home is the sea the storm and the blue

White clouds flying through the rigging too

The crack of sail and the cold flung spray

It’s the wide horizon on a windy day

Which calls the shanty to my weathered lips

Of whales and maids of pirate ships

Of tea at the hearth and a hot clean bath

The trick is over the passage past

The cargo stowed like my memories too

In a locked treasure chest

On my arm tattoo

To my dreams I’ll fly in the night to come

Where again I’ll journey the me so young

Across oceans and seas where I had the life

Traders rum and the whetted knife

I’ve done the turn

I’ve lived the life

I’ve carried the burden

I’ve had the strife

Now it’s time for the hot cupa tea

It’s my children children who listening see

Those days far flung

Far deep in me

The wave the wind the dark blue sea.

Liam July 2019