The Lighthouse Keeper

The Lighthouse Keeper
By: Adam M. Snow

 

I wait eternity upon this shore,
crying out my heart and soul evermore.
I watch thee sail beyond the horizon;
I sit here waiting, rot and wizen.

 

I light thee way through a fog draped night;
you sailed on blind without a sight.
I wait here in this tall light tower,
until the day death brings my hour.

 

http://amsnow.webstarts.com

Author's Note

I once was told that hundreds of years ago, it was the wives of the ship captains who would maintain the lighthouse as they wait many years for their love to return. This poem is about that.

Reviews

[MOON]

Poignant waiting captured vividly.

[VelvetRosetta]

I have a fascination for lighthouses...this piece is so beautiful!!! I want to look up more about the wives waiting for the husbands to return sounds interesting.

[Adam M. Snow]

It is and it is sad.... glad you enjoy the poem

[VelvetRosetta]

=)

[The Refined Poet]

love the imagery presented in this poem. nice write.

[Freedom's Child]

"I sit here waiting, rot and wizen" awesome line with terrific imagery and emotion. Nice flow and great sorrowful emotion maintained through the entire poem!

[Adam M. Snow]

Thank you

[Abba]

The rhyming is reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe, to me. It flows very nicely. I especially like the line "I sit here waiting, rot, and wizen", although I think it has some tense issues? But to be honest, it's a poem, and the point of poems is often to break grammatical barriers that get in the way of some prose, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I would, however, change "I light thee way" to "I light the way" because 1) thee doesn't seem to be the correct tense; you're looking for 'your' but 'thee' is 'you'. You could also change it to 'thy', I believe, but 'the' is simpler. And 2) you use "you" in the next line, so using Early Modern English in one line and Late Modern English in the next is a little odd, and breaks the flow somewhat.

Overall, I think this is definitely a poem you should be proud of! It's very strong, emotional, and succinct. Great job!

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the fact about captain's wife watching the light houses. I believe that to be logical. I enjoyed the tale in the poem and you taught me some history. Thank you for the outstanding poem.
Coyote

[Jazique]

Wow the lighthouse keeper, it really does sound like the story of his and her life, well done.

[Adam M. Snow]

Thank you

[light and ashes]

This is an awesome poem. I really enjoying reading it.

[Marie]

I believe there is something on the lighthouse--or near it--called "the widows' walk".

[Adam M. Snow]

I do believe you're right

[asdarkeyesclose]

i always see lighthouses as something very protective, the light that protects from the dark. i liked where you took this and extra qudos for the rhyme!!! fantastic.

[Adam M. Snow]

Thank you