Thread: Ocean challenge

Chestersdaughter has chosen a subject rather than a first line for our new challenge, and that is:-

The Ocean

That is a wide subject, please post your entries below.

The boy stood on the burning deck
His back was to the mast
He swore he wouldn’t leave that place
‘Til Elton John went past
But Elton was a wily lad -
He threw the boy a plum
And when he stooped to pick it up
He gave the boy some corporal punishment.



Feel free to ignore this contribution

Olly and Querty and OX one night
Sailed off in a paper boat,
Sailed off on a ocean of foamy waves
And found that their boat wouldn’t float.

“Please rescue us,” they cried in alarm
To the crew of a ship passing by.
But that crew, you see, were pirates three
Each a blonde with a gleam in her eye.

...and as this is a family forum it may be prudent to call a halt to the poem at this point.

Now I know how Jessica Watson must feel. I'm all alone on the cruel sea.

Originally Posted by MeeQ

There is a slightly different version i used to sing in the Navy STOP

RAN, I assume?

That’d be the one that ends:

“So if you want to root yourself (Those poxy Poms in the RN don't know the word)
Use the candle on the shelf

Ship Ahoy! Candle joy.”

*For a friend who saw the writing on the wall, his nation transforming into a police state, and headed off to sea.*

Navigation

(for Keith)

Speak
if you wish
of rights
and privilege.
Of revolution
and arms.
Of shots fired,
bodies counted,
tides turned.

Speak on.
You may as well speak.
It hurts nothing
after all.

Here
is something better
something true
held in one hand.
Here in one hand
one hand, one mind
a road to freedom
moral retribution
held in one hand.

Laugh, go ahead.
You may as well laugh.
It hurts nothing
after all.

Laugh.
It may be funny.
Freedom in
a knife
a hank of rope
a wind at my back
and a map of stars
in my mind.

As a child it chilled me
Chattering teeth and thin towels
After on a windy beach
Trying to regain inner body heat
Behind the breakwater.
Later, nose streaming salt water,
Remember the wet bit
Of the world.

As an young man,
In far warmer climes,
And more prosperous times,
I skipped wave tops in a catamaran
Encountered freshwater springs
In sub aquatic limestone caves
And large deep sea fish
Or skimmed on a ski
Across the wet bit
Of the world.

Now, visiting friends, beside the sea
I slip slide and stagger down shingle
My back to the pavilion, facing the sea
Until it comes within my limited range
And I throw some of the dry bit
Into the wet bit
Of the world