Success Is Often Good Timing
swimming out to potential wreck
tossed upon unyielding surge rocks
while weary ship survivors watched
a rescue salvage attempt error made
when the tide finally turned
the sea drew back leniently
the shipwrecked waded ashore
to a hard colonial life awaiting
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Ship To Shore
When you pulled at the wheel with me
To steer our fragile ship of state
We nosed toward uncharted seas
But found our course within a lake.
And every where that we did turn
There loomed another barren shore,
We turned, and then did turn about
To find we'd sailed each course before.
And you would chafe at each restraint
And I would rush to catch each squall
That filled our sails a little while
Before we lay becalmed once more.
Then you would see each distant point
As bearings, where your freedom lay
And drive our ship before the storm
For day upon each battered day.
'Til we had sailed on every course
That wit or will could still devise
While biting tongue and sharp retort
Became the language of our lives.
At every turn, a shallow reef
To wreck the hopes that we had shared,
Each tack would bring us near to grief
Each luff would leave us near despair.
But then you spied some promised ground
And took the boat on that same shore
That we had left together, once
Though never to return, we swore.
The ship of state rolled drunkenly,
I could not steer, nor go ashore
And so each watched the other weep
For you would cry, and I implore.
'Til you rowed back to join the ship
But we were fast upon some reef,
And soon you turned to carp and wit
To speed you on your long retreat.
A thousand times you made that trip,
A thousand times from ship to shore
But now the tide's exposed the rip,
There's nothing left to journey for.
And you may live your life ashore
While I attend some new design,
Our ship of state once went to war -
I burned her to the waterline.
20 September 1989
poem by David Lewis Paget
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Shipwrecked
Im a million miles from anywhere, where can I be
Somewhere out on the ocean
Just take a look out on the horizon, what can you see
Theres nothing there for me
I feel shipwrecked, I might as well be shipwrecked
Im helpless and alone drifting out to sea
I cant believe what you said to me
Even standing on the corner of a busy city street
I still feel so lonely
Why do you say you want to be with me
But the next day say you dont
Im shipwrecked, I might as well be shipwrecked
Im helpless and alone drifting out to sea
I cant believe what you said to me
Without you I feel shipwrecked
But I cant let it show
A million miles away from anywhere, ooh, ooh, ohh
Is it my imagination
Or is it getting darker, are the waves getting higher
Im a million miles from anywhere
A million miles from anything I know
You know thats why Im shipwrecked
I might as well be shipwrecked
Im helpless and alone drifting out to sea
I cant believe what you said to me
You know thats why Im shipwrecked, shipwrecked
Losing my direction
Please come and rescue me (shipwrecked)
Shipwrecked
Shipwrecked
Shipwrecked
Shipwrecked...
song performed by by Genesis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Shipwrecked Lovers
The winds of change encompass
infinite potential energy range will
sweep lovelorn lovers
where they bewitching will...
Before such elemental forces
I shall not unstirred be still.
Tumultuous love surges
convulsively through tidal caves
chases battered surf swept
rip tide chaos lovers...
Leaves lost tidal flotsam souls
flung far apart.
Though alone alost
shipwrecked lovers;
are washed ashore upon
tragic sand choked hearts.
Naked storm tossed castaways
need never part paradise;
love infused sacrificial devotions
blaze beacon bonfires reunion seeks.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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The Wreck of the Whaler Oscar
'Twas on the 1st of April, and in the year of Eighteen thirteen,
That the whaler "Oscar" was wrecked not far from Aberdeen;
'Twas all on a sudden the wind arose, and a terrific blast it blew,
And the "Oscar" was lost, and forty-two of a gallant crew.
The storm burst forth with great violence, but of short duration,
And spread o'er a wide district, and filled the people's hearts with consternation,
And its effects were such that the people will long mind,
Because at Peterhead the roof was torn off a church by the heavy wind.
The "Oscar" joined other four ships that were lying in Aberdeen Bay,
All ready to start for Geeenland without delay,
While the hearts of each ship's crew felt light and gay,
But, when the storm burst upon them, it filled their hearts with dismay.
The wind had been blowing westerly during the night,
But suddenly it shifted to the North-east, and blew with all its might,
And thick and fast fell the blinding snow,
Which filled the poor sailors' hearts with woe.
And the "Oscar" was exposed to the full force of the gale,
But the crew resolved to do their best, allowing they should fail,
So they weighed anchor, and stood boldly out for sea,
While the great crowds that had gathered cheered them encouragingly.
The ill-fated "Oscar," however, sent a boat ashore
For some of her crew that were absent, while the angry sea did roar,
And 'twas with great difficulty the men got aboard,
And to make the ship allright they wrought with one accord.
Then suddenly the wind shifted, and a treacherous calm ensued,
And the vessel's deck with snow was thickly strewed;
And a heavy sea was running with a strong flood tide,
And it soon became apparent the men wouldn't be able the ship to guide.
And as the "Oscar" drifted further and further to leeward,
The brave crew tried hard her backward drifting to retard,
But all their efforts proved in vain, for the storm broke out anew,
While the drifting snow hid her from the spectators' view.
And the position of the "Oscar" was critical in the extreme,
And as the spray washed o'er the vessel, O what a soul-harrowing scene!
And notwithstanding the fury of the gale and the blinding snow,
Great crowds watched the "Oscar" as she was tossed to and fro.
O heaven! it was a most heart-rending sight
To see the crew struggling against the wind and blinding snow with all their might,
While the mighty waves lashed her sides and angry did roar,
Which to their relatives were painful to see that were standing on shore.
All eagerly watching her attempt to ride out the storm,
Especially their friends and relatives, who seemed very forlorn,
Because the scene was awe-inspiring and made them stand aghast,
For every moment seemed to be the "Oscar's" last.
Oh! it was horrible to see the good ship in distress,
Battling hard against wind and tide to clear the Girdleness.
A conspicuous promontory on the south side of Aberdeen Bay,
Where many a stout ship and crew have gone down passing that way.
At last the vessel was driven ashore in the bay of Greyhope,
And the "Oscar" with the elements no longer could cope.
While the big waves lashed her furiously, and she received fearful shocks,
Until a mighty wave hurled her among large boulders of rocks.
And when the vessel struck, the crew stood aghast,
But they resolved to hew down the mainmast,
Which the spectators watched with eager interest,
And to make it fall on the rocks the brave sailors tried their best.
But, instead of falling on the rocks, it dropped into the angry tide,
Then a groan arose from those that were standing on the shore side;
And the mainmast in its fall brought down the foremast,
Then all hope of saving the crew seemed gone at last.
And a number of the crew were thrown into the boiling surge below,
While loud and angry the stormy wind did blow,
And the good ship was dashed to pieces from stern to stem,
Within a yard or two from their friends, who were powerless to save them.
Oh! it was an appalling sight to see the "Oscar" in distress,
While to the forecastle was seen clinging brave Captain Innes
And five of a crew, crying for help, which none could afford,
Alas! poor fellows, crying aloud to God with one accord!
But their cry to God for help proved all in vain,
For the ship and men sank beneath the briny main,
And out of a crew of forty-four men, only two were saved,
But, landsmen, think how manfully that unfortunate crew behaved.
And also think of the mariners while you lie down to sleep,
And pray to God to protect them while on the briny deep,
For their hardships are many, and hard to endure,
There's only a plank between them and a watery grave, which makes their lives unsure.
poem by William Topaz McGonagall
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Life is this
Swimming is
Not excise...
Swimming is
Not hobby...
Swimming is
Not work...
Swimming is
Life...
Yes...
Swimming is
Life...
For all fishess....
Boat and ship
Without breath...!
poem by Otteri Selvakumar
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Lighthouse
The ravaging winds, swirling and twirling;
Like a ballet dancer in perfect rotations;
Capturing my steadfast site of vision;
As I stare agape at the forceful thrusts of the wind gods;
As they cause havoc of the passing waves;
The ship tilting to and fro; top to bottom;
As the waves rap the flimsy deck boards;
As the thunder strikes the august mast;
That stands strong amidst the drifts and the currents, of the winds and water;
A catastrophe unfolding in the ravenous seas................
Then, from the forgotten corners of the rugged mountains;
An angel intervenes, to carry your ship to the eye of the storm;
A light from over yonder, over the cliffs, over the monumental tide;
Standing tall in her sun-parched white, holding her gaze on my path
As the ship rocks and drifts on the unforgiving seabed;
To a destiny that gazes at you with a stubborn heart;
Sometime, love discovers you in the turbulence of life;
When the winds are rampant and the oceans voracious;
Finally, the ship drifts ashore as you rush past the stuttering cliffs, to her
My lighthouse in her immovable gaze.
poem by Dilantha Gunawardana
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The Three Bells
BENEATH the low-hung night cloud
That raked her splintering mast
The good ship settled slowly,
The cruel leak gained fast.
Over the awful ocean
Her signal guns pealed out.
Dear God! was that Thy answer
From the horror round about?
A voice came down the wild wind,
'Ho! ship ahoy!' its cry
'Our stout Three Bells of Glasgow
Shall lay till daylight by!'
Hour after hour crept slowly,
Yet on the heaving swells
Tossed up and down the ship-lights,
The lights of the Three Bells!
And ship to ship made signals,
Man answered back to man,
While oft, to cheer and hearten,
The Three Bells nearer ran;
And the captain from her taffrail
Sent down his hopeful cry
'Take heart! Hold on!' he shouted;
'The Three Bells shall lay by!'
All night across the waters
The tossing lights shone clear;
All night from reeling taffrail
The Three Bells sent her cheer.
And when the dreary watches
Of storm and darkness passed,
Just as the wreck lurched under,
All souls were saved at last.
Sail on, Three Bells, forever,
In grateful memory sail!
Ring on, Three Bells of rescue,
Above the wave and gale!
Type of the Love eternal,
Repeat the Master's cry,
As tossing through our darkness
The lights of God draw nigh!
poem by John Greenleaf Whittier
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4th Dimension
i tried and tried
finally i realized
why she left this 3d world behind
go!
she got tired of the same old story
she had a mind that would not quit
she'd insist a plot must exist
with an ending that she could not guess
she tried hard to convince me
then she took off like a bright idea
she believed there just had to be
a movie that she'd never seen
i watched as her fingers drew
a perfect line in space
i watched as she looked on through
into another place
she found out what she'd been missing
she decided she could change her luck
she was right life's not black and white
it's something more than meets the eye
i watched as her fingers drew
a perfect line in space
i watched as she walked straight through
into another place
she parted with convention
now she's living in the 4th dimension
without me
i tried and tried
and still i don't know why
she left me no address
or a way to guess
now she's somewhere in the 4th dimension
she's living in 4d
she found herself a new direction there
she's living without me
song performed by by Devo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Right To Cry
He kept it all inside - alive and screaming
Tears were not his style, his pride was leading
I watched the light dancing on the sea
As it turned to grey
Oh, how I wish that the tide would soon return
Someday, someday
Ive a right to cry
Thats not giving in
Scars from you and i, scars we kept within
Theres a right to cry, its not giving up
With my right to cry, now Ive had enough
Its hard to break the bones of life, of living
A side youll never show, let go, dont need it
Hold on, hold on, hold on
I can see in your eyes and I know how youre going to feel
I watched the light dancing on the sea
As it turned to grey
Oh, how I wish that the tide would soon return
Someday, someday
Ive a right to cry
Thats not giving in
Scars from you and i, scars we kept within
Theres a right to cry, its not giving up
With my right to cry, now Ive had enough
song performed by by Asia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Wreck of She
The Wreck of She, could be a ship,
that has been cast upon the shore,
but alas she is not, she's part of the street
a fancy English whore
The Wreck of She, has moved around
from war time trenches.
to Hyde Park benches,
down quite back alleys,
and seaside chalets.
Yet she was always there
when Tom came to call
then off they would go,
and have a ball.
The Wreck of She, was just like a night owl.
Out at dusk, and home at dawn,
with grass on her back,
from the golf course lawn.
The Wreck of She, was past her sell by date,
when she was found
crawling in the gate,
she was dazed and battered
but to her it never mattered,
she had been there before
and she knew the score.
The Wreck of She was just an old cat.
A Queen of the night
who never got laid, on a fireside mat
poem by Sylvia Spencer
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Where Unknown Ancestors Died
at indifferent mercy bestowed
by time tide wind
have many sailing ships sailed
to past distant lands
awaiting perilous mist coastlines
locals know a quiet scenic place
deceptive inlet harbour
where ebb rip drowned swimmer
out to sea be swift sucked
body never to be washed ashore
myths lost imbue tidal surround
landfall peril an ancestor
colonial here lived legend depicted
a captain harbour master
drowned here a century more ago
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
See also the poem ‘Birth Of The ‘Shepherdess’.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Get Your Rocks Off
by Bob Dylan
You know, there's two ol' maids layin' in the bed,
One picked herself up an' the other one, she said:
"Get your rocks off!
Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off-a me! (Get 'em off!)"
Well, you know, there late one night up on Blueberry Hill,
One man turned to the other man and said, with a blood-curdlin' chill, he said:
"Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off-a me! (Get 'em off!)"
Well, you know, we was layin' down around Mink Muscle Creek,
One man said to the other man, he began to speak, he said:
"Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off-a me! (Get 'em off!)"
Well, you know, we was cruisin' down the highway in a Greyhound bus.
All kinds-a children in the side road, they was hollerin' at us, sayin':
"Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off! (Get 'em off!)
Get your rocks off-a me!
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ceyx And Alcione lll
So she worried-really worried-when Ceyx announced at breakfast one morning his intention of going on a sea voyage. It made no difference that he was going to Delphi on business. She worried because she loved him dearly, and, better than him, knew the power of the winds, before which taverns collapsed and chairs, cats, small children flew through the air like birds.
'No! '
'Honey, I must! I will! Delphi is definitely on my agenda. Frankly, it could make a big difference in our life style'.
'Absolutely not. I have a bad feeling about this one, trust me'.
'I'm going'.
'Then I'm going, too.'
'Forget it.'
Yes, no, etcetera...back and forth-it would make your head spin.
Finally she said 'ok.go'
The day of departure dawned. The ship was ready. Ceyx boarded and turned to bid his wife goodbye. She could barely look at him. Did she know what was to come? Maybe yes, maybe no.
'Don't worry, honey, it's only for a while. I'll come back to you- promise.
Maybe yes, maybe no. And the ship disappeared over the horizon, its sails filled with gentle winds. But this was before the days of radar,
weather forecasts and hurricane warnings, so the sailors could scarcely anticipate foul weather such as befell them next morning. Sure enough, a storm blew up, worse than any Alcione could imagine, spinning and capsizing the ship in a furor of ill-winds. In a short time the ship was in pieces and its hands walking the undersea currents. Ceyx himself was pulled under. His last word, as the wave crashed over his head was 'Alcione'. His fate was the dread of all mortals-to remain unburied in the sight of the gods, without even so much as an oar planted in the sand to mark the spot where the ship's carcass was cast ashore.
poem by Morgan Michaels
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On The Other Side Of The Door
If it takes one key,
To open one door...
With opportunities awaiting,
On the other side of it.
WHY would anyone choose to sit,
Ignoring what has been given...
Because they have decided,
If what is on the other side...
Would be something,
They would choose to like.
And...this is BEFORE,
Any approach was made...
By them towards the door.
If it takes one key,
To open one door...
With opportunities awaiting,
On the other side of it.
And one does not take advantage of this,
But wishes to be given clues and hints?
That key...
That opens that one door,
With opportunities awaiting?
Has been given to someone...
Looking for their ship to sail in.
Even if that ship was on the other side of the door.
'Captain?
We are still awaiting for the arrival of your chosen passenger.
Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding? '
~Do not worry about it.
We will cater to the ones who did use their keys.
We are not here to convince.
Just service.~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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The Coward
A frightful face floats upon
The undulating waters edge
Like a ship-wrecked casualty.
Its distorted image mirrors
Its vacant eyes and ashen face
Though still alive but dead inside
A failed life, a flubbed suicide
A washed-up failure washed ashore
Rejected by the waxing tide
The sea accepts the very brave
From long fought wars and weathering
But spews its cowards back to shore
Where uncourageous men are made
Those live their lives in masquerade.
poem by Albert Ahearn
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Moon And Sea
You are the moon, dear love, and I the sea:
The tide of hope swells high within my breast,
And hides the rough dark rocks of life’s unrest
When your fond eyes smile near in perigee.
But when that loving face is turned from me,
Low falls the tide, and the grim rocks appear,
And earth’s dim coast-line seems a thing to fear.
You are the moon, dear one, and I the sea.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Hard Times
Well, I recall days in the city
And I think back, oh what a pity
Rememberin how it wasnt pretty
Every day life in the city
Out in the street we had to take it
With friends around, couldnt it
What wasnt there, we had to make it
Hangin out down in the city
The hard times are dead and gone
But the hard times have made me strong
And the hard times have made me see
That the hard times aint where I wanna be
We had to fight to be accepted
It wasnt right and I protested
For hangin out we got arrested
Every day life in the city
Wed go to school and then wed cut out
Go to the park and space our heads out
We called it fun but there was some doubt
Hangin out down in the city
The hard times are dead and gone
But the hard times have made me strong
And the hard times have made me see
That the hard times aint where I wanna be
I dont wanna be there or even think back
I dont wanna be there, now Im on the right track, yeah
The hard times are dead and gone
But the hard times have made me strong
And the hard times have made me see
That the hard times aint where I wanna be
I dont wanna be there or even think back
I dont wanna be there, cause Im on the right track
Now Im on the right track
Im finally on the right track
Im finally on the right track
song performed by by Kiss
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Her Sea Tale
Her tale is really a very unhappy one
She married a Captain hoping to have fun
She wanted to discover the world with him
Instead of which she only saw the ocean
For he always made sure that
She stayed back on board at every port
In sheer desperation she took a decision
At one such port she stealthily disembarked
And hid herself in an empty warehouse
Just before the ship was set to sail
She watched her husband on the deck
Talking animatedly to a fellow crew member
He was totally unaware that she was ashore
As the vessel sailed she waved it goodbye
Remaining riveted to her hiding spot
Until it was completely out of sight
That was the last she hoped to see of him
Her ex-husband the mean and captain
A sense of peace thencame over her
The worst was finally coming to an end
No longer would she in lonliness whinge
Every time her husband went on a Binge,
Leaving her to her own devices
While he indulged himself and his vices
Now she hopes to lead a more normal life
At the port, taking up odd jobs to support herself
While continuously hoping always that her husband
Will never return to claim her back
So that she can enjoy her new found freedom
And be relieved from a lifetime of boredom
poem by Sandra Martyres
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The 4th Dimension
I tried and tried
Finally I realized
Why she left this 3d world behind
Go!
She got tired of the same old story
She had a mind that would not quit
Shed insist a plot must exist
With an ending that she could not guess
She tried hard to convince me
Then she took off like a bright idea
She believed there just had to be
A movie that shed never seen
I watched as her fingers drew
A perfect line in space
I watched as she looked on through
Into another place
She found out what shed been missing
She decided she could change her luck
She was right lifes not black and white
Its something more than meets the eye
I watched as her fingers drew
A perfect line in space
I watched as she walked straight through
Into another place
She parted with convention
Now shes living in the 4th dimension
Without me
I tried and tried
And still I dont know why
She left me no address
Or a way to guess
Now shes somewhere in the 4th dimension
Shes living in 4d
She found herself a new direction there
Shes living without me
song performed by by Devo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Even With My Eyes Closed
Even with my eyes closed
Funny, how I know
Its harder, its harder now
Young girl
In my young girl days
Thinking I could live for always
But like an ocean tide
Im drawn back inside
And I know
Seasons pass
Like sand inside a glass
And nothing, nothing returns
Standing with the friends Ive made
Ill race them to the grave
Well, who won, who won the extra days?
But like an ocean tide
Im drawn back inside
Like an ocean tide
Drawn back inside
And I know
When you take away the years toll
On the waters wide, shallow high and low
In the autumn sky
Happy to know Im going home
Even with my eyes closed
Funny, how I know
Its finally, has it finally begun?
An ocean tide (whoa)
Im drawn back inside
But like an ocean tide (whoa)
Im drawn back inside
And I know
And I know
And I know
song performed by by 10000 Maniacs
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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