The Ship That Never Returned
On a summer's day while the waves were rippling, with a quiet and a gentle breeze;
A ship set sail with a cargo laden for a port beyond the sea.
Did she ever return? No, she never returned, and her fate is still unlearned,
But a last poor man set sail commander, on a ship that never returned.
There were sad farewells, there were friends forsaken, and her fate is still unlearned,
But a last poor man set sail commander on a ship that never returned.
Did she ever return? No, she never returned, and her fate is still unlearned,
But a last poor man set sail commander, on a ship that never returned.
Said a feeble lad to his aged mother, I must cross that deep blue sea,
For I hear of a land in the far off country, where there's health and strength for me.
Did she ever return? No, she never returned, and her fate is still unlearned,
But a last poor man set sail commander, on a ship that never returned.
'Tis a gleam of hope and a maze of danger, and our fate is still to learn,
And a last poor man set sail commander, on a ship that never returned.
Did she ever return? No, she never returned, and her fate is still unlearned,
But a last poor man set sail commander, on a ship that never returned.
Said this feeble lad to his aged mother, as he kissed his weeping wife,
"Just one more purse of that golden treasure, it will last us all through life.
Did she ever return? No, she never returned, and her fate is still unlearned,
But a last poor man set sail commander, on a ship that never returned.
"Then we'll live in peace and joy together and enjoy all I have earned."
So they sent him forth with a smile and blessing on a ship that never returned.
Did she ever return? No, she never returned, and her fate is still unlearned,
But a last poor man set sail commander, on a ship that never returned.
poem by Henry Clay Work
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Related quotes
Homecoming Of A Wanderer (To Bhupen Hazarika)
He returned home through the same village roads,
Some morning declaring his fight against time and its tides,
through which he had gone.
Declaring miles and miles of road shorter than his dreams through which he had gone..
Declaring himself anonymous and wanderer and leaving promises of returning winner.
through which he had gone,,,
He returned.
On his return, the village road saw the same villager and he returned on the same wheels of his dreams
And those dreams were still full of life.
On his return but he was no longer an anonymous, he earned a name which could travel boundaries of land, river, ocean and time as well..
And when he returned he was no longer a wanderer for everywhere he went he left a mark of the river of his village where he belonged and now he owned a home in thousands heart
On his return he was no longer a wanderer
He returned through the same village roads
but not without gifts of eternity..
gifts from the zenith of human limits,,
gifts of pride and honour,,
gifts of travelling the roads of life,,
larger than travelled by any one ever,,,
he returned for he had left with promises of returning to his mother.
For sunset is nowhere more peaceful than the laps of her..
Dedicated to the wanderer,
Baby
Baby, it's alright
Stop your crying
Now
Nothing is here to stay
Everything has to begin and end
A ship in a bottle won't sail
All we can do is dream that the wind will blow us across the water
A ship in a bottle set sail
Baby, it's alright
Stop your crying, now
There was a weakling man
Who dreamed he was strong as a hurricane
A ship in a bottle set sail
He took a deep breath and blew across the world
He watched everything crumble
Woke up a weakling again
Some might tell you there's no hope in angels
Just because they feel hopeless
But you don't have to be a thing like that
You be a ship in a bottle set sail
Baby, it's alright
Stop your crying, now
It's alright
So stop your crying, now
Be a ship in a bottle set sail
song performed by by Dave Matthews Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ship Of Fools
Went to see the captain, strangest I could find,
Laid my proposition down, laid it on the line.
I wont slave for beggars pay, likewise gold and jewels,
But I would slave to learn the way to sink your ship of fools.
Ship of fools on a cruel sea, ship of fools sail away from me.
It was later than I thought when I first believed you,
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools.
Saw your first ship sink and drown, from rockin of the boat,
And all that could not sink or swim was just left there to float.
I wont leave you drifting down, but woh it makes me wild,
With thirty years upon my head to have you call me child.
Ship of fools on a cruel sea, ship of fools sail away from me.
It was later than I thought when I first believed you,
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools.
The bottles stand as empty, as they were filled before.
Time there was and plenty, but from that cup no more.
Though I could not caution all, I still might warn a few:
Dont lend your hand to raise no flag atop no ship of fools.
Ship of fools on a cruel sea, ship of fools sail away from me.
It was later than I thought, when I first believed you,
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools.
It was later than I thought when I first believed you,
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools.
song performed by by Grateful Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No Longer Adrift
No longer adrift, I have returned;
Returned to the place of my birth,
The origin of my love's declaration.
I have returned to the sweetfullness
Of timelessness, on nature's breast
Yearned and in mourning, as since scorned.
But I still have my faith, I still have my love,
For the voices they speak to me, through your words.
poem by Harriet James
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History of This Ship
They wish to see a broken ship,
Sinking with a huge hole in the side of it...
With a promise to keep it afloat,
By another commander...
Who replaced the last one,
Who was a joke.
They wish to see it sail...
As if it was brand new!
They wish to eat a feast and dance.
Without getting wet!
And doing that with magic too!
They wish all these things,
But nothing brings...
Back the fantasies or delusions,
They were taught...
By the flight of the abandoning crew,
Who screwed them!
'That new guy hasn't a clue of what he's doing!
He's trying to fix it like a brand new boat.
If we stick together...
We'll see that he doesn't by taking a vote!
Who is he to tell us what to do?
The history of this ship,
Our forefathers wrote! '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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I'm Alive (That Was The Day My Dead Pet Returned To Save My Life)
I was just kicking down the street
And the sun was in my eyes
So I couldn't see the truck
That was sixty times my size
And just seconds off from splattering me
Let me tell you
I was so scared I couldn't move
Like my boots were full of glue
Then I felt a little tug
And I thought of good Old Blue
And he pulled me from that catastrophe
That was the day
My dead pet returned to save my life
I'm alive
He's alive
I'm alive
I was spitting in the canyon
Near the cliff up on the mountain
When an unexpected sneeze
Hung me in the breeze
At forty five degrees in the sky
Suddenly I felt something
Had me by the belt
And in between my praying
Swore I heard a stallion neighing
Was the ghost of my horse
And I cried, yes I cried
That was the day
My dead pet returned to save my life
That was the day
My dead pet returned to save my life
I'm alive
He's alive
Hey, I'm alive
Things were getting gory
Got caught on territory
Belonging to the Crutches
In an alley in their clutches
Looking kind of dismal that night
Well the leader's name was Fats
Swinging broken baseball bats
Things got really frantic
Starting jumping in their panic
That was the day
My dead pet returned to save my life
That was the day
My dead pet returned to save my life
I'm alive, I'm alive, real alive
That was the day my dead pet returned
That was the day my dead pet returned
That was the day my dead pet returned
That was the day my dead pet returned
To save my life
Hallucinating billions of rats
Lots of rats
I'm alive, I'm alive
He's alive, he's alive, he's alive
I'm alive, yeah
He's alive, he's alive
I'm alive, real alive
Alive, alive, alive
Alive, alive, alive, alive
Alive, alive, alive, alive
I'm alive
song performed by by Alice Cooper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Will Go Sailing No More
Out among the stars I sail,
Way beyond the moon
In my silver ship I sail
A dream that ended to soon
Now I know exactly who I am,
And what Im here for
And I will go sailing no more
All the things I thought Id be,
All the brave things Id done
Vanished like a snowflake,
With the rising of the sun
Never more to sail my ship,
Where no man has gone before
And I will go sailing no more
No it cant be true
I could fly if I wanted to
Like a bird in the sky,
I believe I can fly
Why Id fly
Clearly now, I will go sailing, no more
song performed by by Randy Newman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ship Of Fools
I cant believe what is happening to me
My head is spinning
The flowers and the trees are encapsulating me
And I go spinning
He was the baby of the class you know
He really didnt know that one and one was two
Two and two were four
He was the baby of the class you know
He really didnt know that, really didnt know that
Oh what a poor soul
Oooh, do we not set sail on the ship of fools
Oooh, why is love so precious and so cruel?
I close my eyes and I try to imagine
What youre dreaming
Why cant you see what youre doing to me
My world is spinning
He was the baby of the class you know
He really didnt know that one and one was two
Two and two were four
He was the baby of the class you know
You were so young and so uncertain
Suffer little children
Oh what a poor soul
Oooh, do we not set sail on the ship of fools
Oooh, why is love so precious and so cruel?
He was the baby of the class you know
He really didnt know that one and one was two
Two and two were four
He was the baby of the class you know
You were so young and so uncertain
Suffer little children
Oh what a poor soul
Oooh, do we not set sail on the ship of fools
Oooh, why is love so precious and so cruel?
Oooh, do we not set sail on the ship of fools
Oooh, why is love so precious and so cruel?
song performed by by Erasure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Good Ship Capitilism
The cry's of the poor rise up from the sea of oppression
And still the waves grow higher
The ship sails relentlessly on into the golden horizon
And now the sea is on fire
Wont you turn the ship around they cry
And the sharks draw near
This ship's to big to turn around
And the golden horizon would surely disappear
Ah, how great its been since we threw those
people overboard
So much more for you and I, and yours and mine
So much more for us to hoard
It was all ours anyway, those people
did nothing for what they had
Oh look, the sharks are starting to devour
Ah well thats just to bad
They should have learned to swim faster and stronger,
who do they think they were anyway
living here amongst us for nothing
without even as much as paying there way
Everything we have on this boat is ours
we didn't go to all that trouble just to give it away
Those who are left, if they work even harder
Its just possible we might let them stay
It has been reported to us that we
don't have as much as we might
What! post a lookout immediately
and see if those overboard are still in sight
Captain, they've been sighted
but are caught in a storm
Yes yes yes never mind all that, man the boats
where else are we going to get even more from
Ahoy there you poor and afflicted ones
would you like to come into our boats
Come on, give it all up, don't hold back
yes we will even take your coats
And the ship sailed on and the small boats screamed
Oh my God, don't leave us here in the sea
The afflicted ones will overcome us
And in the sea WE will be
Be quiet, do you think you could stay on this ship
and sail on forever free.
This ship's not about you or yours
This ship's about ME, ME, ME!
Sign on today for the good ship Capitalism
Get your tickets from Romney and Paul Ryan
But if you become sick there'll be no room for you
We throw overboard the sick and the dying
poem by Frank McEleny
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Sensual Sea
Sensual Sea
I have spent some time over the sensual sea
No longer there still I hear, ' come flow with me '
Leaving a pier at dark sailing into the night
On and on we sail under the magic of moonlight
I feel that in another life I was one with the sea
Meant to be on a tall ship swaying endlessly
Gliding along under sail on a sea that sings
Creaking masts send us forth on our billowy wings
Nothing can compare to sailing neath stars above
Exciting places to be seen while on this sea of love
Someday I shall return and sail again upon this sea
Wouldn't you like to leave this land and sail away with me?
Jim 1999
poem by James Casey
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Button Down Your Hatches Quick
Button down your hatches quick...
You lassies fast grabbing lads.
Pull up your britches over your hips.
The commander comes to inspect the ship.
And we with a quickened pace must ensure...
The commander leaves impressed with it.
Remove all makeup from the boys.
And you girls make sure you wear slips.
Don't embarrass yourselves with low self esteem.
Remember the oath to maintain our greatness.
No matter what trash we wallow in and permit.
Impress with image to prove none of us are misfits.
Button down your hatches quick...
You lassies fast grabbing lads.
Pull up your britches over your hips.
The commander comes to inspect the ship.
And fast we must ensure...
The commander leaves impressed with it.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Love's Unrequited Paradoxicity
Love of the unrequited type...
Ah! How paradoxical it be!
Even more paradoxical
Than that of the returned type...
return to me my boomerang
if ironic paradox be
bring on your wings an offering
return to set this captive free
Love is love whether returned or not.
It gives all meaning to life,
But when not returned
It drives us into insanity!
Constantly contemplating
Upon what may or may not be...
provide a reason, supply a rhyme
keep despair exiled forever
to hearts a breathe of gentle clime
elixir to heart's endeavour
If you have not experienced
This type of love,
This unrequited love
Then you shall not understand
The joyous part.
You will think it all tragic.
But there is a joyous part!
you freely give from joyous grace
once prisoner of love withheld
escape on wings of kiss' embrace
receive twin souls, tender fire meld
Love is love whether returned or not.
my need reaches to the heavens
despaired reply from there to find
where is that spark this chest quickens
love without truth is love unkind
Whether that person feels the same or not,
I still love her, and to have someone
That I love so much,
Brings certain joy unto me...
But certain grief to not recieve the love in return...
It is the most tragic grief
And the most joyous joy
At the same time!
Love, paradox of paradoxes!
poem by Frederick Kesner
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The Rock of Lauralee
I stood on the rock of
lauralee
silently looking out
to sea
could hear the howling
of the wind
as it came rushng round
the bend
watched your ship sail
out to sea
leaving the port of
lauralee
each day I return to
view
looking at the sea so
blue
scanning the horizon, no
ship in sight
perhaps a phantom in the
night
today I'm standing here
again
watching your ship rounding
the bend
catching you in the misty
air
my heart leaped to meet
you there
once more invited home
with me
standing on the rock of
lauralee.
poem by Heather Burns
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Little Brother
How you gonna say what you can and cant do,
Sitting in the crib, parked in front of the tube.
Youre mad at the world like she owe you,
What you think opportunitys gonna come looking for you?
Not a damn thing changed.
Youre just another football waiting to be tossed in the game.
Youre flossing again,
You talk a good game, but youre still trying hard to maintain.
Little brother, a ship cant sail without the water.
The world could be yours if you want her,
But you gotta be willing to go out and get it.
When you get it, keep winning.
Everyday youre out slinging that thing.
No worries or cares of what your mama may say.
Trying to get what you want in your life.
The cars, the clothes, the hos, the ice.
Not a damn thing changed.
Youre still another football waiting to be tossed in the game.
Youre flossing again,
You talk a good game,
But youre still struggling hard to maintain.
Little brother, a ship cant sail without the water, no.
The world could be yours if you want her,
But you gotta be willing to go out and get it.
When you get it, keep winning.
Little brother, no, a ship cant sail without the water.
The world could be yours if you want her,
But you gotta be willing to go out and get it.
When you get it, keep winning.
Everything you want could be yours if you were just to try.
All the troubles that you feel will fade away like shooting stars across the sky.
All the dreams I hope you feel soon, someday, shall be fulfilled.
Time is moving rapidly.
Dont let it pass you by, yeah.
Little brother, a ship cant sail without the water, no.
The world could be yours (world is yours) if you want her, (world is yours)
But you gotta be willing to go out and get it.
When you get it, keep winning.
Little brother, no,
A ship (you know we gotta love one another now) cant sail without the water.
The world could be yours (world is yours) if you want her, (world is ours)
But you gotta be willing to go out and get it.
When you get it, keep winning.
Little brother, a ship cant sail without the water, no.
The world could be yours if you want her (the world is yours),
But you gotta be willing to go out and get it.
When you get it, keep winning.
Little brother, get it now, a ship cant sail without the water...
song performed by by Hootie & The Blowfish
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Guest
Guest came and returned back
I am unlucky not able to know
And slept.
Guest came and returned back
I lost all the beauty and richness
That I have kept.
Guest came and returned back.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Death of Captain Ward
'Twas about the beginning of the past century
Billy Bowls was pressed into the British Navy,
And conveyed on board the "Waterwitch" without delay,
Scarce getting time to bid farewell to the villagers of Fairway.
And once on board the "Waterwitch" he resolved to do his duty,
And if he returned safe home he'd marry Nelly Blyth, his beauty;
And he'd fight for old England like a jolly British tar,
And the thought of Nelly Blyth would solace him during the war.
Poor fellow, he little thought what he had to go through,
But in all his trials at sea he never did rue;
No, the brave tar became reconciled to his fate,
And felt proud of his commander, Captain Ward the Great.
And on board the "Waterwitch" was Tom Riggles, his old comrade,
And with such a comrade he seldom felt afraid;
Because the stories they told each other made the time pass quickly away,
And made their hearts feel light and gay.
'Twas on a Sunday morning and clear to the view,
Captain Ward the attention of his men he drew;
"Look!" he cried, "There's two French men-of-war our right,
Therefore prepare, my lads, immediately to begin the fight."
Then the " Waterwitch" was steered to the ship that was most near,
While every men resolved to sell their lives most dear;
But the French commander disinclined to engage in the fight,
And he ordered his men to put on a press of canvas and take to flight.
Then Captain Ward gave the order to fire,
Then Billy Bowls cried, "Now we'll get fighting to our hearts' desire";
And for an hour a running fight was maintained,
And the two ships of the enemy near upon the "Waterwitch" gained.
Captain Ward walked the deck with a firm tread,
When a shot from the enemy pierced the ship, yet he felt no dread;
But with a splinter Bill Bowls was wounded on the left arm,
And he cried, "Death to the frog-eaters, they have done me little harm."
Then Captain Ward cried, "Fear not, my men, we will win the day,
Now, men, pour in a broadside without delay
Then they sailed around the "St. Denis" and the "Gloire,"
And in their cabin windows they poured a deadly fire.
The effect on the two ships was tremendous to behold,
But the Frenchmen stuck to their guns with courage bold;
And the crash and din of artillery was deafening to the ear,
And the cries of the wounded men ware pitiful to hear.
Then Captain Ward to his men did say,
"We must board the Frenchman without delay";
Then he seized his cutlass as he spoke,
And jumped on board the " St. Denis " in the midst of the smoke.
Then Bill Bowls and Tom Riggles hastily followed him,
Then, hand to hand, the battle did begin;
And the men sprang upon their foe and beat them back,
And hauled down their colours and hoisted the Union Jack.
But the men on board the "St. Denis" fought desperately hard,
And just as the "St. Denis" was captured a ball struck Captain Ward
Right on the forehead, and he fell without a groan,
And for the death of Captain Ward the men did moan.
Then the first lieutenant who was standing near by,
Loudly to the men did cry,
"Come, men, and carry your noble commander below;
But there's one consolation, we have beaten the foe."
And thus fell Captain Ward in the prime of life,
But I hope he is now in the better world free from strife;
But, alas! 'tis sad to think he was buried in the mighty deep,
Where too many of our brave seamen silently sleep.
poem by William Topaz McGonagall
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Several weathers in spring
Several weathers in spring
~
a spring morning began
clouds broke for the sun
and returned to claim the sky
rain fell into a shower of hail
and the wind blew it all dry
the sun returned for a spell
and quickly went away
people spoke of sleet and snow
where it fell elsewhere
I had heard or was told
in the room, behind the window
nothing seemed to change
the temperature was modest
and the air still and dry
it was only the picture changing
dependent on the weather
before the light slowly left
and we returned to the night
poem by Matthew Holloway
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Homeland Africa
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi
Down the ocean a ship comes sailing through the waves
Filled with hundreds of men they take as slaves
Just long for their true homeland africa
And to be saved they want to be free
Men women and babyslaves
Coming to the land of liberty, liberty
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi...
They are tired of waiting for a brand new day
Some of them sing and chant some of them pray
And some men got a little tired too
No one knows if the journey pay
Men women and babyslaves
Coming to the land of liberty, liberty
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi...
song performed by by Boney M.
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Spiraling Cliff
mmm
The subject matter and the topic,
You have chosen to discuss
Is most interesting.
You hint,
That a boat floating
Once with an incompetent commander,
Unaware of it floating towards the edge
Of a waterfall cascading at unquestionable speed.
And had been warned of this danger
Should 'not' be the one found at fault.
Because the waterfall at the time of his leadership
Was not as close as it is today?
And the new commander recently taking helm
Who dares to turn the ship away,
From this spiraling cliff
With reason to believe all aboard,
Face eminent and devastating danger?
Because he represents a vision
That has not been collectively decided,
By those wishing to continue sailing
With scheduled social events to attend?
And
Everyone aboard,
Now hears the thunderous roar of this waterfall?
But pretend the evidence of it does not exist?
I'd like to make this suggestion strongly recommended.
And this is hypothetically speaking,
Of course.
'Of course.'
If everyone 'now' hears,
The thunderous roar of this waterfall...
Wouldn't it be to the best of everyone's interest,
IF they paid attention?
And gave the new commander their support?
'In response to your hypothetical suggested recommendation,
To my 'hypothetical' inquisitive mention of this
Of course.
Giving the new commander that much authority,
Would reveal delusions all aboard 'this' ship
I mean 'the' ship,
Wish to keep to themselves without the embarrassment,
Of admitting
They have standards and values,
They would rather keep to impress others who 'may'
Look upon them with less respect!
And,
They would rather try to convince others,
The new commander has weaknesses
Than to confess an apparent ignorance exposed.
And their severe incompetence to address,
Is a confession.
WHO and WHAT are they trying to protect?
'An 'image' of greatness!
Hypothetically speaking,
Of course.'
Sure.
And hypothetically speaking
Where would the lifejackets be stored,
Aboard 'that' fated ship?
'I have no idea.
I am going back to the upper deck,
To attend tonight's activities.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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The Spring
(After Rilke)
Spring has returned! Everything has returned!
The earth, just like a schoolgirl, memorizes
Poems, so many poems. ... Look, she has learned
So many famous poems, she has earned so many prizes!
Teacher was strict. We delighted in the white
Of the old man's beard, bright like the snow's:
Now we may ask which names are wrong, or right
For "blue," for "apple," for "ripe." She knows, she knows!
Lucky earth, let out of school, now you must play
Hide-and-seek with all the children every day:
You must hide that we may seek you: we will! We will!
The happiest child will hold you. She knows all the things
You taught her: the word for "hope," and for "believe,"
Are still upon her tongue. She sings and sings and sings.
poem by Delmore Schwartz
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