Near Thing!

The freighter loomed from the darkness

Its shadow high on our port,

And Jenny screamed at the starkness

Of the fate the freighter brought,

Its bow wave flowed right over the prow

Of our tiny little yacht,

We knew that we couldn’t ride it out

So whether to swim, or not?

 

The sea was luckily clear and warm

It had been a perfect day,

As we had lazily sailed along

The length of Innotto Bay,

As night had fallen the breeze had too

And it left us quite becalmed,

So when the freighter came ploughing through

It had seen us both alarmed.

 

It rose above us, this rusty hulk

That had seen much better days,

The bridge was lit, could they see us sit

Where their bow cut through the waves?

The yacht was rocked by the turbulence

That its mighty hull displaced,

And suddenly we were swamped out there

As the sea rose to my waist.

 

The yacht had foundered, was going down

Crushed by the mighty bow,

And we fell into the sea where we

Clung on to each other, now.

It sucked us in as it glided past

And we heard the turgid roar,

As the giant props left a wake of froth

That would suck us in, for sure.

 

And Jenny panicked to stay afloat

As I clung on to her arm,

But down we went as our strength was spent

Where the props would do us harm,

We saw them thrash as we sank on down

And a dull throb filled our ears,

The blades would slice like a guillotine

Was the source of both our fears.

 

But the violent thrash of the water there

Sent currents beneath the stern,

And we were violently thrust on down

Where the props had ceased to churn,

And when we bobbed to the surface, we

Saw the freighter disappear,

Ploughing into the distance while

We lay in the bay, to cheer.

 

We were only a mile beyond the reef

And beyond that lay the land,

So struck out together in relief

And I held her by the hand,

We’ll never forget that rusty hulk

As it passed, I caught its name,

Riven with old corruption it

Was called, ‘The Devil’s Game!’

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Ben Veen]

Wow, I have fallen short of words to describe this piece as it has truly left me breathless. The way you work through poetry with such prowess is incredible, not one line in the verse felt awkward as it was all so beautifully done. Bravo, ill make sure to read your other work and look forward to it.
-B Veen

[Willard Wells]

Another powerful piece of work. Very nice. I was in the water with fear of the props. Thanks.

[Lena M. P.]

What a thrill to read. I myself was holding my breath as if I were the one being pulled under water. Well written David.

[Marie]

They were lucky. Perhaps a power not from the devil thrust them down where they could not be harmed.

The idea of that somehow evil, rusty freighter is compelling.



"it's" is a contraction of "it is", not a possessive.

[Barbz]

I can only imagine, after drifting the pleasureable sea, facing the terror of that rusty hulk...and worse, yet, the horror of those huge props that could turn you into Chum. The currents saved your lives and foiled the Devils Game. I thoroughly enjoyed this and found myself living the experience......scary, but props to you for creating the scenario ......Perfection, as always......Barbz