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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Drowned Within Lea Of Land
at indifferent mercy bestowed
by time tide wind
have many sailing ships sailed
to past distant lands
awaiting perilous mist coastlines
where storm raging
awaiting submerged shipwreck rocks
turn of rushing tide
left a wave of grief in their leave
to endure survive
an ocean crossing die within land lea
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
lea - a meadow or sward land; a grassy field; common land; a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock.
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. -Gray.
First five lines quoted from the poem ‘Where Unknown Ancestors Died’ by Terence George Craddock.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Time Tide Wind
indifferent mercy bestowed
time tide wind
many sailing ships sailed
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Washed Ashore In Ages Past
two weeks later a leg
washed ashore
to be buried at
Charleston cemetery
New Zealand
to be buried as
presumably
the partial remains
of an ancestor
who drowned
needlessly
while attempting
to tow a schooner
through narrow
tidal rocky entrance
heroic rescue
of drowning man
none attempted
doomed to failure
a life lost legend
a drowned memory
leg of lost meaning
half history forgotten
until this brief epitaph
to family I do restore
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Birth Of The ‘Shepherdess’
The ‘Shepherdess’ arrived at
Constant Bay on Sunday
afternoon 1879 31st August
sea calm virtually no wind
but no harbourmaster on duty
she lay off the entrance harbour
until the following morning
awaiting signalled to enter port
light breeze weather fine clear
attempting to tow the schooner
‘Shepherdess’ into port
through narrow rocky entrance
using a dinghy surf boat
to secure anchorage mooring rocks
suddenly a large wave swamped
stout dinghy threw
Thomas Bailie, Charles Craddock
into tidal sea surge
Bailie managed to clamber back
into surf boat then pulled dragged
Charles Craddock
back in but tragically immediately
a second wave smashed
into the boat, overturned the boat
again two men are thrown into surf
what wave force
second wave overturned the dinghy
impossible to right
no option but try to swim for shore
pounding surf smashed valiant efforts
into ocean inlet
floor time time again, each try time
it hope appeared
they might reach safety, wild breakers
drove two back, while crowd watched
life drama helplessly
two men struggled, desperately constantly
for their mortal lives
none attempted, dive into boiling waters
none thought to throw hope a rope
a large crowd gathered
perhaps none could swim wild tide
finally a rope was found
they tried to throw to struggling men
three times four more rope was flung
delay was to late
weak limbs could not grab last hope
too late too late
Thomas Bailie made a desperate lunge
for last life spent ebb hope the rope
gasps watchers eyes
Bailie starfish clings hung with tenacity
a man who surely knew
to release life thread was to brine drown
Bailie was dragged from sea by watchers
on a rocky shore
but Charles Craddock was spent exhausted
by fearsome struggle
could not swim in could not swim reach rope
Charles sank beneath waves once twice
re-surfaced struggles
struggles shoreward struggles Charles sank
below waves third
time last time Charles was gone lost lost...
to a brine grave while wild breakers
breaking broadside
across the ‘Shepherdess’ bumped
schooner toward port
good news tragedy overshadowed
Charles Craddock in death left a wife
three children in 1879
body swept away never recovered
a fortnight accident after
a leg was washed ashore duly buried
this leg was buried in Charleston cemetery
a belief in Craddock family
maintains though event was not recorded
in cemetery burial records
Constant Bay life lost in adverse conditions.
See also the poem ‘Where Unknown Ancestors Died’.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Whisper Ghostly Beauty Pageant Gripe Captain Cur
nice titled promotion of the cause you oppose
nice mixed metaphors poets who birth arose
long after your death in haunting list rows
nice imaginative whisper ghostly write
no need to walk plank moonlight tonight
or blast thee with flame shotin iron blight
for centuries dead sea Captain Cur
was but a seaweed drowned spirit blur
now his legend rising gains new spur
Inspired by the poem ‘Beauty Pageant Poetry' by Captain Cur.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Captain Bravado
The sun shines,
O'er the trees and vines.
The wind wind embraces
The leaves with a gentle clasp.
The broken reeds like a harp,
Play their tune amidst the gloomy haze.
At a distance braving the storm in the sea,
Against the crashing tides with a glee.
A Captain set to cheat fate,
With a crew of bravado and valour.
Towards the distant beacon of a harbour.
Against the tide, through Hell's Gate,
Sailing to reach ashore!
Waiting for another storm,
To brave once more.
poem by Vivian Thompson
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Gulls
When the mist drives past and the wind blows high,
And the harbour lights are dim--
See where they circle, and dip and fly,
The grey free-lances of wind and sky,
To the water's distant rim!
Like spirits possessed of a fierce delight,
A courage that cannot fail,
They face the breakers--they face the night--
The mad storm-horses are silvery white,
They ride through the bitter gale!
They seem like the souls of the long, long lost,
Who breasted the ocean-main--
Vikings whose vessels were tempest-tossed,
Voyagers who sailed, whatever the cost,
And never came home again.
Or stranger and wilder fancy--it seems
As I hear their wind-torn cry,
No birds fly there through the sun's last gleams,
But the wraiths of hopes--the ghosts of dreams
That the old sea-gods saw die.
When the mist drives past and the wind blows high,
And the harbour lights are dim--
See where they circle, and dip and fly,
The grey free-lances of wind and sky,
To the far horizon's rim.
poem by Virna Sheard
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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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Sailing Ships
(coverdale/vandenberg)
Do you remember
Standing on the shore,
Head in the clouds,
Your pockets filled with dreams
Bound for glory
On the seven seas of life,
But, the ocean is deeper than it seems
The wind was with you
When you left on the morning tide,
You set your sail for an island in the sun,
On the horizon, dark clouds up ahead,
For the storm has just begun
Take me with you,
Take me far away,
Lead me to the distant shore
Sail your ship across the water,
Spread your wings across the sky
Take the time to see
Youre the one who holds the key,
Or sailing ships will pass you by
You cry for mercy,
When you think youve lost your way,
You drift alone, if all your hope is gone
So find the strength and you will see
You control, your destiny,
After all is said and done
So take me with you,
Take me far away,
An lead me to the distant shore
Sail your ship across the water,
Spread your wings across the sky
Take the time to see
Youre the one who holds the key,
Or sailing ships will pass,
Sailing ships will pass you,
Sailing ships will pass you by...
Take me with you,
Take me far away,
Well ride the wind across the sky
Spread your wings and you will see
You control, your destiny,
So sailing ships dont pass you by
So take me with you,
Take me far away,
Well ride the wind across the sky
Spread your wings and you will see
You control, your destiny,
So sailing ships dont pass,
So sailing ships dont pass you,
So sailing ships dont pass you by...
Baby, baby, baby, baby,
Youll find that youre the only one
Can sail your ship across the sky
song performed by by Whitesnake
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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Wavelets Of Light
enlightened darkness an embryo upon the horizon
is the birth of light the breath
taking dawn with possibilities waking
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
Inspired by the poem ‘You just have to go out’ by Miroslava Odalovic.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Ephemeral Tide Flows Swift In Time Darkness
watch soft silent silhouettes
surreal ships life passing otter
shapes carried slip satin water
river flows past earth shores
darkness consume illumini sunlit air
darkness consume crypt fading light
darkness paints shapes in birth night
darkness spotlight starlit atmosphere
shapes disappear dance glossomer darkness
photostream merge embue mist ink absorbing
passing ships hint images spectrums tugging
ephemeral tide flows swift in time darkness
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Donkey Love
The new the new the new
crowd’s bay
its great its wonderful its fab
crowds say.
Future fads
espouse condemnation
deny past
has been prophets.
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
fad – short-lived fashion.
fab – as in fabulous.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Alamo Moment Birth Phoenix
Alamo moment birth in phoenix
pyre eyes stirs heart of freedom
loving men to battle cry freedom
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
This poem is a split image from the poem ‘An Egyptian Freedom Falcon Flies Battle Cry Freedom’.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Coming In To Harbour
Well I dreamed I saw you sailing in upon a sleek white schooner
You were slipping over shallow water
You were coming into harbour, you were coming into harbour
With the wind in all your sails
You were carrying a cargo that was richer than riches
More gold than gold and much more real than real
New born babe in your arms and his cool blue eyes gazed up
Yes his cool eyes gazed upon a fresh world, one yet to be made
I was standing on the shoreline looking out over the sea
And I saw your white sail appearing on the horizon
I was standing on the shoreline just looking out over the sea
And I saw your white sail appearing on the horizon
You were coming into harbour, you were coming into harbour
In the bright light, the bright light, longer than the 20th century
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love
Night is my sister, and how deep in love,
How drowned in love and weedily washed ashore,
There to be fretted by the drag and shove
At the tide's edge, I lie—these things and more:
Whose arm alone between me and the sand,
Whose voice alone, whose pitiful breath brought near,
Could thaw these nostrils and unlock this hand,
She could advise you, should you care to hear.
Small chance, however, in a storm so black,
A man will leave his friendly fire and snug
For a drowned woman's sake, and bring her back
To drip and scatter shells upon the rug.
No one but Night, with tears on her dark face,
Watches beside me in this windy place.
poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Humane Great Political Leaders?
God said the master
to the slave is equal
politicians today need
to remember history
previous past generations
humane great leaders
who worked
not for themselves
who worked
for the good
of their nation
their people
who believed in
peace at home
peace in the world
Splitting image from the poem ‘Injustice In Politics’ by Terence George Craddock.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Struck By Bad Luck
where could I go
now to find a prophet
who could explain
a brief simple literal
exemplified extended
metaphor definition
of precious praying relative
to 21st century greed global
selfish inhuman indifference
hear main man told me
your praying every time
when you kindness stop
to help any stranger
struck by bad luck side
of life’s lonely road
Inspired by the poem ‘You’re Praying’ by Eric Cockrell. Split Imaging from the poem ‘Time For A Little Praying’ by Terence George Craddock.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Serving Lost Souls Tired Broken
an excellent
extension of praying
extended
into social context
contemporary community
is poem ‘You’re Praying’
ash mud star dust
wins favour with God
when serving lost
souls tired broken aged
desperate who need
compassion blessings
Inspired by the poem ‘You’re Praying’ by Eric Cockrell. Split Imaging from the poem ‘Time For A Little Praying’ by Terence George Craddock.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Flogged Upon Rack At Sea
Wisdom Sentimentality
Sincerity.
Are free
inflating hearts that can be
above risen
treacherous currents
embroiled
in bitter judgement misty
dark green sea.
Past waves sucked out marrow
chilling chipped raw bones
stripping striped flayed flesh.
Balsam rubbed in hardens
shuddering residual resistance.
As gashed groaning flesh rigidly
resists handfuls of coarse salt.
Raked across weeping wounds
sentence scouraged bitterly.
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
‘The Saga Of A Convict Lass’ is the original template poem for a collage of poems, symbolic of collective convict suffering, yet unique experiences of individuals, during the penal transportation period. See also ‘Penal Transportation: Forgotten Gaelic Slaves’, ‘Money Purchases Only Pearls’ and ‘Sentenced For The Term Of Her Natural Life’ by Terence George Craddock.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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