Van der Decken (cavatina)
Quite romantic an ancient ship passes
during twilight
with the setting sun ropes, cords, sails thrum;
the coming night
rushes in with a myriad of stars
and out of sight
a man stand with a fist high against the wind,
to eternity rest he will not find.
poem by Gert Strydom
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The Flying Dutchman
The blue water stretches
as far as visibility allows to see
and there’s fog
rising white before the storm
out of the water.
The dusk becomes grey
and the sea from blue to dark black
while the night
darker than ink, as only companion
folds over the old ancient ship.
It’s Van der Decken standing as tiller man
behind the big wheel
and forever he steers the ship
on the journey that she goes.
Always cursing
his loud voice thunders
like lightning falling around him
for sailors to tend the sails right
and sails are hoisted crunching, groaning and trembling
with strong ropes
and the ship jumps
over the smashing waves.
Like a phantom
the Flying Dutchman appears
with white sails like a wraith
over the horizon
where it sails before a storm with speed.
The ship becomes lager
as the storm wind
brings her closer
and you hear her creak
against the power of the wind.
There’s thunder bolts blinding suddenly
and sea birds flies screeching
out in front of her,
while Van der Decken’s skeleton
drills his men powerless
to set the sails right
that is vibrating against the wind.
“How long still Lord, ”
echoes against the sea and sky,
without a answer
ever coming
and suddenly the ship is gone
as if it disappeared in the naught.
poem by Gert Strydom
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After The Sea-Ship
AFTER the Sea-Ship--after the whistling winds;
After the white-gray sails, taut to their spars and ropes,
Below, a myriad, myriad waves, hastening, lifting up their necks,
Tending in ceaseless flow toward the track of the ship:
Waves of the ocean, bubbling and gurgling, blithely prying,
Waves, undulating waves--liquid, uneven, emulous waves,
Toward that whirling current, laughing and buoyant, with curves,
Where the great Vessel, sailing and tacking, displaced the surface;
Larger and smaller waves, in the spread of the ocean, yearnfully
flowing;
The wake of the Sea-Ship, after she passes--flashing and frolicsome,
under the sun, 10
A motley procession, with many a fleck of foam, and many fragments,
Following the stately and rapid Ship--in the wake following.
poem by Walt Whitman
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When My Ship Comes In
No sun on the rockies, not even the light of day
I feel that old cabin fever coming on
But I know where Ill be when lady luck finally blows my way
Shell put the wind in my sails and Ill be gone
It wont be long before my ship comes in
Gonna sail right out of colorado
Catch a ride on a warm trade wind to puerta no-one-knows
Shell find me waiting when my ship comes in
Gonna board and go whichever way the wind blows
Ill be off to find myself once again in puerta no-one-knows
When my ship comes in
Maybe Im only dreaming but it sure seems real
Somehow the wind doesnt chill quite to the bone
Or could it just be the fever Im running on an uneven keel
Not losing sight of why Im up here alone
Chorus
It wont be long before my ship comes in
Shell find me waiting when my ship comes in
It wont be long before my ship comes in
Shell find me waiting when my ship comes in
When my ship comes in
song performed by by Clint Black
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Coming Off The Ropes
I'm coming off the ropes
(he's going down)
He thinks I'm beat
I'm coming off the ropes yea
This ain't no retreat
He thinks I'm going down
For sure my head is spinning round
When I straighten up
But I'm going to knock him off his feet!
(Wow suckerpunch!
I'm coming off the ropes
(he's going down)
Yes I'm coming off the ropes
I'm coming off the ropes
He made me angry now
I only need to straighten up
I'm going to show him how
I can hear someone count to ten
Seems like a lifetime,
But I'll tell you when
I know I'm safe down here
So till then, must have been
a lucky swing
Two years ago,
I would have not let him in
I'm coming off the ropes
(he's going down)
song performed by by Chris Rea
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The sky is but a tall ship
The sky is but a tall ship;
And the clouds invisible sails-
When I catch that wind,
When I catch that wind.
Storms can push a vessel aground;
And life isn't really the holy grail-
Then you catch that wind,
Then you catch that wind.
Don't worry about the setting sun;
If you lost or if you won-
Just reach your hands up to the sky
Until you've learned the way to fly,
And you'll find, once you catch that wind,
The sea of sky won't ever end.
poem by Patti Masterman
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Going To Paris
We are going to paris
In a ship with red sails
As the storm gathers slowly
We eat fishheads and snails
The mate jumps up, throws down a line
To a man overboard for the ninetieth time
And then he says with a wink
Sometimes I think
Ive been doing this forever!
We are going to paris
In a ship called the ? ?
There are signs in the sky at night
That the captain says hes seen
I keep books under my pillow
And read them before I sleep
Strange places I go to,
Strange companies I keep
We are going to paris
We are one and thirty strong
I can feel it in the air
Well be there before long
The wind has come
Like a man insane, insane
We are going to paris
It rains and it rains
We are going to paris
In a ship with red sails
We are going to paris
In a ship with red sails
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Shipwrecked
When at Crete a gentle south wind began to blow
We weighed anchor deciding it was time to go
But a wind began to blow of hurricane force
A 'Northeaster' sprang up and blew us way off course
Then giving way to the strong wind we sailed along
And we passed ropes under the ship to make it strong
But because we feared the ship would soon run aground
We cast overboard the cargo that could be found
No sun or stars shone during any night or day
And the storm just kept raging on to our dismay
So awful was the great tempest that we had braved
We had given up hope of ever being saved
After fourteen nights in the Adriatic Sea
We took soundings to find out where the land could be
And measuring fifteen fathoms began to fear
That we'd be dashed against the rocks and disappear
So four anchors were dropped as we all prayed for day
But some of the sailors began to sneak away
They were lowering the lifeboat into the sea
But the soldiers slashed the ropes to let it go free
Then an angel appeared to me during the night
And told me that all those on board would be alright
That no-one would lose even a hair from their head
So we all gave thanks together and broke some bread
All two hundred and seventy six ate their fill
And threw the rest of the grain overboard until
At dawn daylight came to everyone's delight
And we were so relieved to see land in our sight
But when sailing to the shore a sandbank was struck
And to our great dismay we became firmly stuck
Cutting loose the anchors which sank into the sea
But the bow was wedged firm and could not be worked free
'Let us kill all the prisoners' the soldiers said
Praise God the centurion did not want me dead
So those that could swim were told to jump overboard
All the rest floated ashore on pieces of wood
Crew and passengers made it safely to the shore
And were so thankful to be safe on land once more
So log fires were lit and we were soon warmed and dried
Everyone had been saved and none had died
Knights Of The 21st Century
Words unspoken, sworn in secrecy
A burning flame for the ones who believe
The prophecy
Revelations from the sun as of the moon
In seven nights we became history
The prophecy
On a cold dark night
We set our sails to search for land so far away
Searching for the truth
There's a howl in the wind
On this mystic trail of water we sail on
The source of youth
And the storm breaks loose on the seven seas
Tag on the signs on the mounting sun
Northern light is shining on for us
Breaking the ice in search for tomorrow
Setting the sails into the future
Leave all your fears and your sorrows
From the mountain side
Came a twisted wind, it brought us new insight
Whispering these words
Come in the midst you'll see
Said a voice, I thought it was the prophecy
The secrecy unheard
And on the violent sea there's tranquillity
We saw the signs on the mountain side
Northern light is shining on for us
Breaking the ice in search for tomorrow
Setting the sails into the future
Leave all your fears and your sorrows
A secret passage never to be found
In front of us a delusion of sight
The prophecy
From the mountains and the rivers down below
A silent breeze, there's a wail in the wind
The prophecy
We've come from a land so far away
We bow down to the words you pray
Storming down the mountain side
No place to go, no place to hide
Here we stand under of cover the moonlight
Oh, the prophecy was bound to fail
Here we are, nowhere to be found
We're trapped in another world and the journey's just begun
Ah, ah, ah
Northern light is shining on for us
Breaking the ice in search for tomorrow
Setting the sails into the future
Leave all your fears and your sorrows
Northern light is shining on for us
Breaking the ice in search for tomorrow
Setting the sails into the future
Leave all your fears and your sorrows
song performed by by Hammerfall
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Invocation
I called on dreams and visions, to disclose
That which is veil'd from waking thought; conjured
Eternity, as men constrain a ghost
To appear and answer. ~ WORDSWORTH.
Answer me, burning stars of night!
Where is the spirit gone,
That past the reach of human sight,
As a swift breeze hath flown?–
And the stars answer'd me–'We roll
In light and power on high;
But, of the never-dying soul,
Ask that which cannot die.'
Oh! many-toned and chainless wind!
Thou art a wanderer free;
Tell me if thou its place canst find,
Far over mount and sea?–
And the wind murmur'd in reply,
'The blue deep I have cross'd,
And met its barks and billows high,
But not what thou hast lost.'
Ye clouds, that gorgeously repose
Around the setting sun,
Answer! have ye a home for those
Whose earthly race is run?
The bright clouds answer'd–'We depart,
We vanish from the sky;
Ask what is deathless in thy heart,
For that which cannot die.'
Speak then, thou voice of God within,
Thou of the deep, low tone!
Answer me, thro' life's restless din,
Where is the spirit flown?
And the voice answer'd–'Be thou still!
Enough to know is given;
Clouds, winds, and stars their part fulfil,
Thine is to trust in Heaven.'
poem by Felicia Dorothea Hemans
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The ship sails on plowing
the surface
of eternity´s echo.
Where new dogmas
will be born,
man die in the name
of a deity.
The ship sails on seas
of timelessness
till the echo ceases.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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Dust In The Wind (live)
Tell everybody that I am sorry, truly sorry
For all the wrong I've done
I never meant to hurt nobody, no no
Lord I never want to do no wrong
And I have lied, and I have begged and I have cheated
And I know my ship, it won't be coming in
And as I lay me down to take my rest
I can see that it's just dust in the wind
Take hold my hand, and hold it tighter, ever tighter
You must believe that I love you still
But my strength, it grows weaker, and weaker
And my body has lost its will
'Cause I have lied, and I have begged and I have cheated
And I know my ship, it won't be coming in
And as I lay me down to take my rest
I can see that it's just dust in the wind
Oh Lord, I have lost once again
And there's no one to help me find my way home
Lord and I, Lord I never want to hurt nobody
And I, Lord I never want to do no wrong
'Cause I have lied, and I have begged and I have cheated
And I know my ship, it won't be coming in
And as I lay me down to take my rest
I can see that it's just dust in the wind
song performed by by Guns N' Roses
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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She Took The Wind From His Sails
Outer banks of North Carolina
Lies a sleepy harbor town
Generations of old sailors
Dropped their sails and settled down
Sam he is a young seafarer
Grandson of a sailmaker's daughter
Today he's gonna take her hand
Chorus:
Calm waters
Wish them well
His ship's come in
She's put the wind in his sails
Catherine is a canvas painter
Paints the sun and sand and sea
Lately she's been painting a portrait
Sammy is a dad to be
Chorus
January brought the fever
Sam was right there by her side
Doctor told him son I'm sorry
But Catherine needs your prayers tonight
Morning light brought Sam a daughter
Fever took his better half
Sam gave Catherine to the water
As he held their baby to his chest
Calm waters
Wished him well
His ship came in
But she took the wind from his sails
His ship came in
But she took the wind from his sails
song performed by by George Strait
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Up On Helderberg Hill In A Vast Pine Forest
Up on Helderberg hill in a vast pine forest,
the wind gently rushes through the trees,
the scent of pine is everywhere about me,
while far beneath at the Strand beach
waves are forever braking against the shore,
a far off church bell rings somewhat solitary,
as the twilight falls all over us with silver,
with a magical garment that covers everything
and you look lovely, somewhat like a toy doll
with stars twinkling with twilight in your eyes,
in you my desire flames forever, rivers flow deep
while you send it where and when you will
aim glances, smiles and touching soft lips
while you are drawing all of my arrows,
silences have a own painful meaning
but our embraces, kisses and touch do anchor
in something much darker and deeper
than the coming of this approaching night,
while you kiss me breathless like the wind
that is dying, draw me tenderly in to the grass.
poem by Gert Strydom
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The mill-stream rushes by (parody)
(with apologies to A. E. Housman)
The millstream rushes by sounding like a disease
in all this I cannot hold my peace,
under the bridge the devil passes by
and tonight with him escaped from hell, here am I.
Who created the world I know but cannot now tell,
“It was made and I am here and the devil out of hell.
My hand shakes because he’s freed,
I never thought that we would meet.
And so, I doubt in all eternity, anyone gone by,
none has suffered here such as I
who could not spend the night alone, the devil isn’t gone
and I can’t even strike my fist; I am standing here like stone.
[Reference: XIX “The mill-stream, now that noises cease” by A. E. Housman.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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The Home Of The Spirit
Answer me, burning stars of night,
Where is the spirit gone,
That past the reach of human sight,
As a swift breeze hath flown?
And the stars answer'd me: 'We roll
In light and power on high;
But of the never-dying soul
Ask that which cannot die.'
O many-toned and chainless wind,
Thou art a wanderer free;
Tell me if thou its place canst find,
Far over mount and sea?
And the wind murmur'd in reply:
'The blue deep I have cross'd,
And met its barks and billows high,
But not what thou hast lost.'
Ye clouds that gorgeously repose
Around the setting sun,
Answer - Have ye a home for those
Whose earthly race is run?
The bright clouds answer'd: 'We depart,
We vanish from the sky;
Ask what is deathless in thy heart
For that which cannot die.'
Speak, then, thou voice of God within,
Thou of the deep low tone;
Answer me, through life's restless din -
Where is the spirit flown?
And the voice answer'd: 'Be thou still;
Enough to know is given;
Clouds, winds, and stars
their
part fulfil;
Thine
is to trust in Heaven.'
poem by Felicia Dorothea Hemans
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Van der Decken
Sometimes just before a breaking storm
standing at the old wooden tiller of your ship
far away from the Cape shore
you sail forever more,
smitten to ride the waves eternally
even with a windless pail stormy sky
driving your ancient ship across the sea
with it creaking, with sails trembling
with the woodwork ages long needing repair
right out of the forming fog
you appear with a fist clenched above your head
still cursing the creator God
as a token to all men,
even witnessed by a king,
by naval ships at war
you Van der Decken, sail on forever more.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Sargasso Sea
I stand on the deck of my ship
stranded in uncharted seas
wondering where the west wind
will be carrying me.
Will it be to some treasure island,
but from the dark clouds forming
will it be to some distant doom,
or will be to the Sargasso Sea.
The sea of weed unmapped
where many good ships and men
from have failed to homeward sail.
The wind is bellowing my sails
as my wooden ship begins to creak.
Oh how I long for sight of land
and a way back home.
Each wave smacks again the hull
with a dragon’s roar.
My ship reels roughly in the waters
as lightning crackles above my head.
The sky is now as black as pitch
and the wind whips spray into my face.
The dark clouds of torment drive my ship and me.
Will be to a watery grave or still waters calm.
Only the ticking hours of time will reveal when it is right.
Now I must ride with the storm
and wherever it is taking me.
I can only pray to my lord for help
to deliver me from that dreaded Sargasso Sea.
I fear no foreign lands only a sea unknown to me.
The storm of torment bellows,
restlessly through day and night,
but I am not a sailor to give up without a fight.
I curse the wind to leave my ship and me alone.
It ignores my curses and carries me further on.
Even the moon and stars are afraid to show their light,
but I stand firm upon my deck
to see the sunlight in the morn.
I curse some more
as the west wind hammers at an open cabin door.
Slowly the lightening fades
and the dark clouds dissipate overhead.
The west wind runs out of breath
as the sun glitters on the waters
that wander over watery graves.
The sea becomes placid
no more raging foam,
a gentle breeze arises
so I can chart my way home.
27 July 2009
Author’s Note.
The Sargasso Sea is one of the great myths and legends of the sea. Ancient mariners used to talk about it entangling around ships so that they could not move and remained stranded there. Countless stories and poems have been written about it, each embellishing it more. I, myself written two poems about it, the first being Sea Of Dead Ships.
The truth is that Sargasso is Gulf Weed, is a brown seaweed that forms thick floating masses in the tropical Atlantic waters.
DVH
poem by David Harris
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After the Sea - Ship
a dancer on the stage
the ship and the sea my envy
they dance to god's repertoire
a heartwrenching spontaneous dance
energetically executed
over a stage that rotates in waves
strenuous steps that shuffle between life and death
poignant steps that send the hearts afiery, the feet frenzy
first a breeze, a soothing calm
that would soon throw the dancer helter skelter
onto a tempest
where the goddess of dance
has to be propitiated, called upon
for each step, each stomping of foot, feet
up and down, up and down
over treacherous waters
where the living bares their souls
and dancers fashion in motion every emotion
each muscle, each nerve
tested for their fitness in
the dance of the god
a repertoire of surprise, fear,
excitement in all its facets
a dancer thrown to the last test
the trading of steps for life
the waves pounds, she angles herself
steadying herself to the next onslaught of
the yet unknown dance beats
from the world master of dance
puppeteers of the world
that work behind our eyes
inspired by
After The Sea-Ship
AFTER the Sea-Ship-after the whistling winds;
After the white-gray sails, taut to their spars and ropes,
Below, a myriad, myriad waves, hastening, lifting up their necks,
Tending in ceaseless flow toward the track of the ship:
Waves of the ocean, bubbling and gurgling, blithely prying,
Waves, undulating waves-liquid, uneven, emulous waves,
Toward that whirling current, laughing and buoyant, with curves,
Where the great Vessel, sailing and tacking, displaced the surface;
Larger and smaller waves, in the spread of the ocean, yearnfully
flowing;
The wake of the Sea-Ship, after she passes-flashing and frolicsome,
under the sun,
A motley procession, with many a fleck of foam, and many fragments,
Following the stately and rapid Ship-in the wake following.
Walt Whitman
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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One Night Stand
Let me tell you.....
Jennys getting her stuff in my room
Puts on her skirt and shes looking good
Six am and shes leaving soon
Says what a crazy night I had
A real good time
But her kiss tells me its goodbye
Just like nothing happened last night
But if I had one chance
Id do it all over again
One night stand I dont think shes coming back for more
She was only looking for a one night stand
I dont think shes coming back for more
No no
Now Im left up in my lonely room
She left her underwear and her perfume
I never thought that it could be this good
And I still feel a little on my fingertips
Im trying hard not to feel rejected
Maybe the phone lines disconnected
But if I had one chance
Id do it all over again
I know it
One night stand I dont think shes coming back for more
She was only looking for a one night stand I dont think shes coming back for more
She was only looking
One night stand but Id do it all again for sure
Oh yeah
Baby like a blind man I rushed in
Now do I have the right to ask you,
Will you be coming back again?
One night stand I dont think shes coming back
One night stand I dont think shes coming back
One night stand I dont think shes coming back
One night stand I dont think shes coming back for more
She was only looking
One night stand I dont think shes coming back for more
She was only looking for a one night stand I dont think shes coming back for more
She was only looking for a one night stand I dont think shes coming back for more
She was only looking
One night stand but Id do it all again for sure
I guess it was a one night stand
One night stand
I guess it was a one night stand
One night stand
I guess it was a one night stand
One night stand
I guess it was a one night stand
One night stand
I know it, yeah
song performed by by Enrique Iglesias
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nightrider
Beware of night for we all know hes loose again
Behind him lies the eyes of mercy and despair
Forever living out his nightmare comes to life
From hell this spell will find its way to you
Tonight
Tonight
A thousand cries are heard, they echo in the wind
And still the rider will unleash his chosen sin
The victims of his rage are soldiers of his mind
His scream will heed the call of those who stand behind
The nightrider sails away
The nightrider sails yeah
By day the rider will have vanished from all eyes
Seen from within the only answer to him lies
But as the rays of light begin to fade away
The rider will return to carry out his stay
The nightrider sails away
The nightrider sails yeah
Beware of the night
Beware of the night
Beware of the night
Oh god, beware of the night
song performed by by Queensryche
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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