Maps & Charts

for my father...

For part of your voyage, Captain

I was there at the helm with you,

So young, and the world had flowered,

I caught my breath at the view;

But you stood grim, determined

And saw what I could not see,

You spoke of the storms and tempests

That I had coming to me.

 

Your words took shape, exploded,

Then burst at my head and heart

Like shooting stars in the sunset,

Like embers, glowed in the dark,

I lost so much of their meaning,

Ignored so much that was said

Your thoughts flashed bright on the water

Then dimmed, went out - despaired.

 

You tugged at my understanding

Set course for the verities,

I stood for so long behind you

That you merged with the skies and seas,

The breeze snapped long at the mizzen

The spinnaker billowed and flared,

I questioned the ship’s direction

But I doubt if you even heard.

 

We parted one brave morning

When I took a ship of my own,

Then you drove alone at the sunset

While I made sail to roam,

We’d each glimpse sights of the other

At sea, and in seaports new,

When we’d spark our flints together

As my understanding grew.

 

Then my storms and tempests claimed me

As you’d said they would at the start,

And sparks came back of your warnings

As I set my course by the stars,

And I tried to grasp your secrets

That had glimmered and glowed in vain,

But you’d set a course for the sunset

And never came back again.

 

So now in my darkened cabin

I pore over maps and charts

And I set each course for the helmsman

To look for your many parts,

I know that the journey shortens

As the planets wheel and turn,

And you wait for me at the sunset

Where our maps and charts are burned.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[James Takeo Panton]

I am also member of Scuttle butt group...you should join and submit.....this has great rhythm and word usage, as I am getting accustomed to when reading your work.....thanks very much for sharing with us all.....

[THE BLACK SEAL]

i found this one interesting. have you heard of the scuttlebutt group? he does a lot of cool contests and things and it is all about the nautical side of things.

[D. Elizabeth]

I love your wordusage. It reminds me of how I string words together. With a name that starts with a "D" you can't go wrong. "wink" It's beautiful. xo -D.E.