All In, Captain

A new day, again--more of the same

though not quite the same--I think back

on how many ways I've travelled

this famished highway, places

the expected meal never caulked

my hunger's leaky appetite.

Gloppy red fig, old Medina market,

Maghrib ringing in my ears,

the sun-swept ash pulling me through

San Marco's marauding pigeons,

lonesome Sally, Miss Saigon, Phuket stitches--

shall I go on? The stutter

of a life lived on the edges of commitment,

never completely where I said I was--

the gambler who wouldn't go all in,

because a chip and a chair was all he needed

to still be in the game. The game,

roulette without the bullets, a deck of deuces,

last chair on the Titanic--

until I washed up on your beach.

Our season of seas never seemed to long,

nor did I mind the occasional roiling wave,

having found my legs at long last,

I scampered up the rigging, made fast

the sails whenever you sighted a rogue wave.

These nights I turn on the tide of your

sighs, murmurs of some unsighted reef,

content to be the deuces' mate, all in

to your Captain's call. All in, Captain.

Ken e Bujold

© 2022

Reviews

[softlyfall]

A sailor love story!
These nights I turn on the tide of your sighs is a very sensual, sexy phrase and gives depth to the love you express in a sort of corporal way.
I love that you love you wife and I love that she loves you, after all these years. it is very life affirming and makes me smile.
But even more than that, I love your work.

[Ken e Bujold]

thank you ever so much. This poem was a joy to write, though a bit uncomfortable at times. The first verse required a fair amount of thought, and rewriting as I sought to tackle my young wild boy days without sinking into the maudlin or sounding either too proud or too bitter. Not to mention never too specific :)) As for my Muse, every day is an adventure on the high seas. Captain of Captains she is

[andrew mitchell]

We can't take for granted that some journeys are better.than others misfortune s. Great write.

[John the Baptist]

It sounds as though you finally found the right vessel after traveling some choppy and varied seas. Also sounds as though you have re-enlisted for the duration. Not all are so fortunate.

[Ken e Bujold]

22 yrs and counting at the moment John. Been a great journey. whether through smooth waters or roiling seas I wouldnt give up of a minute of it for the old drifting days

[Coyote Poetry]

This is the kind of poetry, you must read again Ken.
"These nights I turn on the tide of your
sighs, murmurs of some unsighted reef,
content to be the deuces' mate, all into your Captain's call.
All in, Captain."
The lines above, I liked. I liked the story in the poetry leading to the proper ending. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Ken e Bujold]

thank you for the kind review coyote

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Ken.

[Red Brick Keshner]

Like a pressure release valve, poetry can be. And the travels all the more near as distanced the first ever voyage - that first sting of wanderlust. Wandering the stars bring constellations of verse and yet to each viewer their type of lens and telescope show something unique although it is the selfsame thing they are looking at.

[Ken e Bujold]

wow. a poem for a review. if peeps read the review section they going to get a 2 4 1

thanks for the kind words friend

[Red Brick Keshner]

Cheers, I have back playing in my head... perhaps he has some of the blame to share.

[Chris Shaw]

Great extended metaphor here on your journey through love and life. Seems you have found your harbour of contentment. Safely anchored. Great poetry Ken.

Chris

[Ken e Bujold]

I have indeed. also had great laugh on showing this to muse late last night. her first question, i kid you not, was "who was lonesome Sally?" My reply kept us laughing until the wee hours "can't really remember her, but I think she's probably still lonely"

[Chris Shaw]

You know, it's great you can share your poetry and have a good laugh too:)

[Ken e Bujold]

she reads almost all of it. though honestly a great deal she simply tolerates, since she has a much more literal mind than mine. When I start to soar or wax too poetically I sense her eyebrows raising, "oh s**t, what the f is he on about now"

[Chris Shaw]

Ha ha............