The Black Dog Run

The hull was that of a freighter, merchant,

Old, but still under steam,

It rose from off the horizon, distant,

Out of somebody’s dream,

Its livery had been dull and black

But now it flaked and it peeled,

The paint rose up on bubbles of rust

It was once designed to have sealed.

And from its stack there was dark grey smoke

That rose and spread on the sea,

Fouling the air in a narrow track

So they wouldn’t be seen by me,

We put the coastal cutter about

And raised the flag in the sun,

So Sally could see we were headed out

As she went on the Black Dog run.

The day was done it was almost dusk

When we entered that trail of smoke,

The freighter, ‘Emily Greensleeves’ must

Have burnt off a ton of coke,

We only saw her faint through a haze

And never a single crew,

But only Sally up on the bridge

As the dog came rabbiting through.

The dog, as black as a tinker’s pot

Raced back and forth on the deck,

Not so much as a chain restraint

Or a collar stud at its neck,

It stood there slavering down at us

When we got up close with a gun,

And often we thought to pick it off

When out on the Black Dog run.

But then the freighter would slip away

Deep in its trail of smoke,

And we’d be left alone in the bay

Trying to breathe, not choke,

Others have said they will bring her in

This ghostly girl, with a gun,

But nobody’s able to pin her down

When out on the Black Dog run.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Another interesting story David.

[James]

Masterful. I love a story written in poetry, very vivid imagery.

Thank you for sharing this

[R Smith]

a real dark tale David, love the idea of the freighter run by a girl and that monster of a black dog and all that smoke filling the air, I can taste it even now, brilliant story telling my friend :)

[Mr_Goth]

One must go back for another pass there is wisdom and beauty in these lines along with experience with a ever so haunting beauty that cries with the freighter and chokes on the black smoke this is superb poetry at its best I exalt this piece

-chuck

[M. L. F.]

Uhh! The fiction writer in me is haunted by this one... Some of these lines are simply beautifully written!!
But now it flaked and it peeled,
The paint rose up on bubbles of rust
It was once designed to have sealed.

And from its stack there was dark grey smoke
That rose and spread on the sea,
Fouling the air in a narrow track
So they wouldn’t be seen by me,

[M. L. F.]

Still a fan-girl of your work David... Your poetry tells stories, just like my favorite, Edgar Allen Poe. Skills... You have them in abundance.

[Valentine]

Very well written. It leaves me wanting to hear more of her story. Nice one. Valentine

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed this tale. I wanted more.
"This ghostly girl, with a gun,
But nobody’s able to pin her down
When out on the Black Dog run."
You left me with good visions and place. Thank you David for sharing your outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Jane Winters Rogers]

The Emily Greensleeves had seen better days , now she was destined to
Forever sail the "black dog run " with a brave free spirited girl Sally as her
Only remaining crew plus the slavering black dog,...what a mystery you
Have woven here on the "run".... I found this poem very eerie right from the
Start all the way through until the Emily Greensleeves slips away once again
In her trail of black smoke with the ghostly brave Sally with her gun, so if ever
Caught she Would bring her would be captors down into the churning smoky depths of
The sea....I could imagine this really happening your great use of imagery
Heightened the ethereal quality of this great poem.. I love this one!

[richieb]

Always enjoy poems about the mysteries of the sea's, you didn't disappoint David. Living in Ohio it brought back memories of watching the huge freighters on Lake Erie while we were in little 24' boats fishing for perch. Once again great imagery, thank you for another noble poem. Richie.

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha "...the Black Dog run" .... a ghostly tease ..sailors are a superstitious lot ain't they matey!? always a pleasure to read your stories ..not disappointed ...wondered if it was going green and glad it did not .. at least overtly ..too much heaviness in real life these days ..one needs a break! :)
E.