Tilted to Red

(Someone’s misfortune)

it’s not until the tide
sweeps in at the break of day
salt water rising
that reality hits home
you are sunk
in the harbour basin
well and truly
as most of your cabin roof
is submerged beneath sea slime
and your once proud mast
is no longer upright
but tilted port side
waiting to drown
in misery

Author's Note

Starboard is green
port side is red

Reviews

[Ken Simm.]

Got those not far from here. Excellent use of metaphor there Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Ken. Hope you are dealing with the storms up there. Really rough weather everywhere. Take care.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

Not for us this time. Unlike last time.

[Chris Shaw]

Our turn now:) Lots of flooding down here. Rivers on high alert.

[Ken Simm.]

Keep safe.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A very descriptive poem and one that reminds me of Cornwall. Indeed so sad and yet intriguing to see a wreck and it may even be a metaphor Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

This time it was a boat, sadly sunk with the tide, but of course it could also have been used as a metaphor too. Seen on a recent holiday to Brixham John. Always poignant for me to see a boat that won’t float again. Much more pleasant to see them bobbing and dancing in the harbour when the tide comes in. Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Wow!, Chris, most profoundly contemplative philosophical thoughts set to pen of page here as excellently crafted and penned Poetry ...

Marve

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Marve for all the visits and time you have given me today. Truly appreciated. All good wishes.

Chris

[Light and ashes]

Great lines...............

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you my friend. Pleased you enjoyed the read. All the best.

Chris

[Light and ashes]

Of course.
I always appreciate you.
Thank you so much for the kind words.

[Chris Shaw]

You are very welcome:)

[Light and ashes]

:)) .......

[andrew mitchell]

Yes sad indeed like old cars, steam trains and world war 2 planes left to rot and never see the light of day. Also applies to those castles now in ruins all over the UK, so sad they are not restored.

[Chris Shaw]

Sad about the castles Andrew. We have plenty of them in ruin throughout the UK. I don’t often see sunken boats, but I do sense a sadness when I do. Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

We have the Ethel wreck on Yorke Peninsula a rust bucket beached on the sands. Also a few wrecks around the mangroves.

[Matthew Kult]

Painfully sweet. Vividly picturesque.

With love,

Matthew

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Matthew for your welcome visit.

Peace and love

Chris

[Dave]

Chris -It must be a sad sight. Coming from the shore I can relate. To see once proud vessels, large or small that once plodded gentle or rough swells doomed to rot away. A very interesting scene you portray.

Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave. It was a sad sight to see. A boat, unlikely to ever float again. All good wishes to you and yours.

Chris

[Soren]

A most interesting image and I learned something about the red and green. Is there a metaphor here? Does the red (normally a sign of danger) equate with the "waiting to drown in misery"? Is this when "reality hits home"? Very picturesque at the very least but I think there is more than meets the eye.

[Chris Shaw]

This poem was about a yacht that sunk in the harbour, but I can see that it could easily be a metaphor as well. The mast had not completely submerged. The yacht had keeled over port side (red) waiting to completely submerge (drown). So sad to see a vessel that had once sailed and danced in water, in this sorrowful state. Thank you Soren. It was only when the tide swept in and covered the harbour mud, that you could see the reality of the situation.

Chris

[M]

Port side meaning red must also indicate danger, I assume. I have never ever been on a boat of any kind, unfortunately, but I do know that tides can be seriously dangerous and are known to trap many with their speed and unpredictable nature. A capsized boat would only result in a tragedy. The sea can be so dangerous. I sure hope this wasn’t based on a real occurrence. You have painted a tragic portrait with your well written words, if so.

[Chris Shaw]

In this case Makhabat, the yacht had keeled on its port side. I always think
of red as the colour of danger. If you have never tried boating, I thoroughly recommend it. We use our own boat on the river, not the open sea. That needs more courage. Many Thanks for your welcome review and visit.

Chris

[Lorry]

I am left wondering Chris, if this is about the sinking of an actual boat, or perhaps a recent visit to Scotland, where rain caused feven more mayhem than usual with apocalyptic style flooding, that left roads washed away in mudslides and even train stations resembling canals.
And that is nothing compared to the stench it has left in the nostrils as the water receded and left farmers destitute as their crops have been decimated.
And I didn't even hear the four horsemen arrive! 😊

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lorry. The poem is indeed about the sinking of a small yacht in the harbour at Brixham. Didn’t notice it while the tide was out, but at high tide it looked sorrowful. Sorry about all that flooding you have experienced over the border. We have been blessed with some sun and warm autumn days. Hope you get some too. Have a happy Tuesday :)

Chris