A Ship to Remember

Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.

They're laying down a mighty keel.

As ant-like workers scurry round

I hear a truly riveting sound.

And as she rises midst the swarm

I see the beauty of her form.

(He has no soul who cannot see

How I am forced to call her "she".)

And then, 'a sudden, she's a ship!

She waltzes down that mighty slip.

Then, in the water, no splash, mind,

This lady floats. Oh! How refined!

Southampton docks: I want to feel,

And touch, and taste the British steel!

Palatial, and stately too.

(There was no like in Xanadu.)

The passengers, the crew, all we

Are safe aboard, so out to sea.

The cheers, the midget well-wish fleet,

That siren deck beneath my feet!

A jewelled city, in the night,

From shame, the very stars took flight.

Her mighty speed seemed but a creep,

So steady that she seemed asleep.

Indeed the city slept. A few

Remained awake, they mostly crew,

To feed the rav'nous boilers' maw,

To bake the bread, sort mail, and more.

I almost dozed and wished my bed,

But:

"Iceberg!", "Iceberg! Dead ahead!"

With straining engines, spinning wheel,

She strove to swerve her awesome keel

And almost, almost, but, not quite --

A straining shrieking rent the night

And rent her hull. (I took no fright.)

'Twas but a glancing blow", I think,

She will not, cannot, must not sink!

But down below the decks, unseen:

In sneaks the ocean cold and keen.

And as up each steel wall it grows

It reaches top, and overflows.

Boats are lowered. Ah! Sad few.

"Women and babes first!", shout the crew.

A panicked man, in dressing-gown:

"My God! My God! She's going down!"

"Nearer my God, to thee how near".

The band plays on, to calm the fear.

"You've done your duty, lads, now go."

But does the music stop? Oh no.

A fervent prayer to He who saves

As down she slips beneath the waves.

The silence!

Then those dreadful screams.

(I sometimes hear them in my dreams.)

Next morn, upon that sorrowed billow

A wreath, a chair, a toy, a pillow.

No souls, the souls are all asleep.

I stand in silent prayer, and weep.

Patrick Lockerby - March 2005

Born 1946, London, England.
Grammar-school educated.
Retired engineer.

Interests:
Anything at all to do with language & linguistics, esp. -- poetry, prose; natural language processing; control and communication in human systems; law, lies, logic.

---

Robert Burns Love Poem: A Red, Red Rose

Robert Burns, a poor man, an educated man, and a... Read More

Five Poems

Poems have different cores, or so I believe, and can... Read More

Give Me a Lily Pad & The Continuum [two Poems]

What can I do to keep this world in its... Read More

Ceasar Vallejo: Black Roses [In English and Spanish]

Cesar Vallejo: Black RosesBow down your head ol' poet- To... Read More

Opposites Do Attract Quite Well

When I am climbing up, you are stepping down. When... Read More

Mechanical Poetry; Part Two

What do you do when you want to write poetry?... Read More

Lamenting Poetic Moods [six Poems]

Advance: in Mr. Siluk's poetry one finds symbolist values, sensuous... Read More

The Gaul of La Laguna de Paca

Part OneI tell you a legend of long ago Of... Read More

Lucky...

You make me smile like I've seldom done before You... Read More

Ocean Heal Me

Ocean Heal MeOcean heal my wounds Let your waves curl... Read More

Two Poems: Black Poncho, and Spirits of de Copan [in English and Spanish]

English Version12) Black Poncho(of Saint Cosme Hill, by Lima, Peru)Lost... Read More

My Grannio

I never thought I would have to say GOODBYE to... Read More

Writing Innovative Poetry

Writing innovative poetry, the kind of poetry that reputable literary... Read More

Kens Poem

How wonderfully sweet to be a dweller dwelling... Read More

Mechanical Poetry - Part Three

Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More

Contract of Death [Now: in SPANISH and English]

Contract of DeathI heard today, the preacher say: "Daniel has... Read More

Three Sweet Poems, and Two Not So Sweet [now in: SPANISH and English]

1) End PoemWherever you are today- Is where you were... Read More

Because of You

You are to me my lifeline my security. That scares... Read More

The Butcher of Lima and Footprints to Mantaro Valley (Two Poems)

Footprints to Mantaro Valley (Peru; in English and Spanish)In what... Read More

Caught in the Arms of ED

YOU MIGHT THINK I AM STRONGI THINK YOU GOT IT... Read More

Three Poems: Phantom of the Rocks; Lady from Lima & Bell Ringer of de Copan

Phantom of the Rocks[Huancayo, Peru]Night falls deepUpon the traveler!Low, over... Read More

The Art of Receiving Poetic Critique

You can show your poem to your mom, your spouse,... Read More

Ole Bulky Jeeps & Paper, Ink and Rain [two Peoms]

Ole Bulky JeepsThrough late summer's heat These bulky shaped jeeps... Read More

Exalted Poetry; Two poem [and commentary]

Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil... Read More

Learn About Love From Poet Rumi

In this modern age of technology, busy lifestyles, and obsession... Read More

Colorful Talk

"I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to... Read More

Spell of the Andes: (in English and Spanish)

Note: written 4-15-05, while driving through the Andes of Peru,... Read More

Lifes Too Short

Time goes by to quickly to hold your feelings inside... Read More

Memoirs of a Wastelands Rim [a Poem: now in Spanish and English]

Memoirs of a Wasteland's RimIt still was light when she... Read More

In the Mountans of Haiti [A Poem: in English and Spanish]

In the Mountains of Haiti(In the City)-July is a hot... Read More

Choices

You can do and you can be whatever you want.... Read More

I Saw the Universe

I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the... Read More

The Goat and the Rope [a Poem: in Spanish and English]

The Goat and the Ropewhere there were devils I saw... Read More