THE CAPTAIN, MATE AND SIREN OF THE SEA

Dreamer II anchored in Desolation Sound

          Although my life seems adrift at the moment, like a castaway floating on the sea of life, not sure that I'll ever see land again, it doesn't hurt to keep on paddling. It would be great to have a distant mountain top poke its head above the horizon and give me direction or a sea bird dip its wing and point the way. However, even the waves are flat and soundless; the silence at times unbearable. 

          Shortly before I married Sarah, I lived on a sailboat for almost 25 years. Her name was Dreamer II, and I loved that name right from the start because I've always been a 'dreamer too'. Living either on the sea or by the sea for most of my life, to be honest, it still seems a bit strange anchored to 50 acres of semi-wilderness land. Although the wind can almost be as fierce (actually not that long ago, I was blown over by a gust); the land does not ebb and flow, nor does it gently move up and down. 

            I'm not sure that anyone loses their affinity for the sea, especially when they have sailed; no loud annoying engine noise, only the sound of the wind filling the sails and the bow cutting through the waves. And, when the land dips out of sight, only sky and water in view, the feel of the Earth's heartbeat as the rollers rise and fall with every breath is a very humbling experience. Realizing this living planet, our only home, could suddenly rear up like a mangy dog and shake all us fleas off as easily as the spray from a gigantic wave crashing against the rocks, we shouldn't be taking Mother Nature for granted.  

          While living on my sailboat, I painted seascapes and wrote about the sea. Although I really enjoy writing stories, I've also written a shit-load of poetry. The poem you're about to read if you've read this far was inspired by a sailor's yarn: 
         About to set sail across the vast Pacific Ocean and searching for a crew member, a friend he knew volunteered. At first, everything was working out fine but then things started getting a little weird. His friend told him that he was going to marry a mermaid. At first he thought it was funny, until one day, when he went outside to take his turn at the helm, his friend had vanished. Since the wind was mild and the sea wasn't rough, it wasn't likely he had fallen overboard, so the question is, did he marry a mermaid and live happyily ever after in the ocean or did he dive in and try to swim back home? 

The Captain, Mate and Siren of the Sea

C'me 'ere me matey, set a spell,
'Cause this old salty dog o' the sea
Has a yarn to spin, a tale to tell
That'll keep you in awe and ecstasy.

'Twas a clear night such as this
A sliver of a moon in the sky,
The sea as flat as a plate of piss;
That I heard a maiden's melancholy cry.

At first I thought it a trick,
A light breeze through the riggin' and sails;
So I gives meself a good hard kick,
But I 'ears it again, 'er mournful wails.

It sounds as if she's cryin'
Alone, adrift on the endless sea;
A castaway on a raft dyin'
'Til I hears 'er voice call clear to me.

I squinted through the darkness
Across the star reflected sea;
I'll be blow'd!  For off in the blarkness
Stood an isle and its maid o' mystery!

Voice as soft as an angel's,
She hallooed out to me by name.
Agin me logic, agin me will,
I steered the boat closer to test 'er game.

I could scarce believe me e'e!
She sat stark naked on a rock;
Smilin', 'er long arms outstretched to me
Beckonin', "Come ashore an' 'ave a wee talk."

Tell me.  Do I look like a fool?
On second thought, don't answer that;
Not 'til on the tale I've thrown more fuel,
Don't make y'ur final rule on this chat.

I ached for those slender arms,
Her coquettish smile of desire;
To be enveloped within her charms;
Set my body, my very soul afire!

She promised love ever more;
Days of laughter, nights of pleasure;
Even marriage by the seashore,
One I could trust an' forever more treasure.

As the vessel neared the shore
Close to imminent disaster,
A silent voice deep within my core
Said, "Wait!  What's the rush?  Y'ur still the master!"

Turnin' 'er hard back on course
I yelled, "One day, I will return!"
Instantly overcome with remorse,
I never chanced a look back o'er the stern.

In the darkness of the night
I heered 'er melancholy plea.
"Oh sailor, sailor, why take flight?
I'll always love you.  Please come back to me."

Those words, "I'll always love you."
Have haunted me o'er the years;
"Please come back to me."  Tis sad but true,
I gave up love in search of other spheres.

The mate thought the captain mad,
Quite completely out of his realm
As he stood strangely clad,
One hand on his hip, t' other at the helm.

He was dressed in tux an' tails,
A silken scarf about his throat,
His starched shirt gleamin' white as the sails
Flapped loosely in the breeze below his coat.

For awhile he was silent,
And then, almost in a whisper,
"Mate!  Do you hear that soulful lament?
There!  There!  Now it sounds a little crisper.

Listen!  She's callin' me name.
Step lively mate!  Take holt this spoke!"
No sooner did I grab hold the same,
He was over the side doin' the stroke.

As he swam away he said,
"If you want the longytude,
It's under the pillow on me bed
Written side b' side with the lattytude."

"Hah!  As if I'd come back here.
This place is a source of madness.
But wait!  What's that sound, that lilt I hear?
Can it be my name, sung with such sadness?"

          Well...not only are my fingers tired from tapping away on the keyboard and I haven't been sleeping too well lately, the rest of me feels the same too. So...I think I'll call it a night and post this blog tomorrow...cheers, eh!