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.
Chicken Soup is good for a coldSleep is good for... Read More
"For this reason poetry is something more philosophical and more... Read More
Ocean Heal MeOcean heal my wounds Let your waves curl... Read More
A Poem - By Lorraine KemberIt was a day like... Read More
Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk,... Read More
There I sat, ninety-five degree weatherOutside; the bookstore café, was... Read More
"Beautiful Dreamer" was written by Stephen Foster just before his... Read More
If a happiness poem could bring forth a smile, Then... Read More
English VersionAnd the Death God said: "Let it rise to... Read More
FIND the MAGICFind the Magic As you release old bondage... Read More
Writing Poetry for TomorrowWhat does a man need to be... Read More
To many non-specialists of literature, poetry is deeply unsatisfying. There... Read More
There once lived an old man and his goodwife On... Read More
What can I do to keep this world in its... Read More
Ode to QuetzalcóatlQuetzalcóatl the GreatNo one knew his true name,... Read More
[As Told by the Last] King: it was in the... Read More
Contract of DeathI heard today, the preacher say: "Daniel has... Read More
How wonderfully sweet to be a dweller dwelling... Read More
I Shall Wait..On all the new mornings, and every singking... Read More
"Song of the Great Zimbabwe"Across the African, winter's skyIn the... Read More
Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959,... Read More
The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering... Read More
Supernatural PoetryHere are five poems,-what I call-death and supernatural poems.... Read More
In this modern age of technology, busy lifestyles, and obsession... Read More
Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More
As I picked up some of the polished gemstones in... Read More
All Hail.Is your hospital full of aliens, despite new cleaning... Read More
Two Poems and an Analysis ['Witness,' & 'An Old Love']WitnessMy... Read More
Here is some witty poetry (not sure if that is... Read More
Explore the meaning of poetry and the motivation of poets... Read More
Our home was warm in the shade of the trees... Read More
Writing poetry is an art, a way of expression, finding... Read More
When I hear your voice inside my head it makes... Read More
Cesar Vallejo: Black RosesBow down your head ol' poet- To... Read More
In the midst of darkness, there is light. In... Read More
Writing Poetry for TomorrowWhat does a man need to be... Read More
I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the... Read More
I will never think twice nor will I roll the... Read More
Our home was warm in the shade of the trees... Read More
1)dying in the bar [sluggishly]yet, I would crawl too upto... Read More
Fair Andes! Thy arms reach highOf iron-woven solid stone Thu... Read More
Contract of DeathI heard today, the preacher say: "Daniel has... Read More
Sometimes we feel hard-pressed, Our backs against the wall;... Read More
Here is some witty poetry (not sure if that is... Read More
I AM SO GRATEFUL for simpler times. Stores were closed... Read More
Supernatural PoetryHere are five poems,-what I call-death and supernatural poems.... Read More
The Torrents of HellHell's furnace- Likened to a chimney Vomits... Read More
"For this reason poetry is something more philosophical and more... Read More
Memoirs of a Wasteland's RimIt still was light when she... Read More
She raised me like I was her own daughter from... Read More
[As Told by the Last] King: it was in the... Read More
1) Shadows of the Andes [or: Song to the Andes]I... Read More
Robert Burns, a poor man, an educated man, and a... Read More
Sorry would be a start.Though you cant take back your... Read More
Advance: Mr. Dennis Siluk's poetry can have its fire-hearted twists:... Read More
Ole Bulky JeepsThrough late summer's heat These bulky shaped jeeps... Read More
McLean, VA - "The Healing Conscious" tells the story of... Read More
Poems have different cores, or so I believe, and can... Read More
You've been writing poetry since that first assignment in your... Read More
"Song of the Great Zimbabwe"Across the African, winter's skyIn the... Read More
Black Blood, in Jeremiah's Vines [A Dream Poem]And I heard... Read More
I get up in the morningAnd want to stay in... Read More
During interviews and general conversations with the public,one of the... Read More
No one should have to beg or crawl before humanity.... Read More
As I picked up some of the polished gemstones in... Read More
Man UnbowedUnbowed by sin, the world of man, stands Upon... Read More
Poetry |