Rear Admiral

The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective. -Thoreau

a black ace

he played bass

with an infectious smile

strutting a melodious, golden mile

cooler than a brand, spanking new refrigerator

tearin' it up like an amplified cheese grater

blowin' up the house and leaving nothing but an empty crater

slappin' taut steel strings

hearts, souls and other finely tuned, esoteric things

hauler of no man's junk

making feel-good music intoxicatingly drunk

each and every note a slam dunk

sailing the seven seas of funk

a legend he did debunk

his brilliant, red skies at night 

raising more than the anchor of a sailor's delight

Author's Note

"It is easier to sail many thousand miles through cold and storm and cannibals, in a government ship, with five hundred men and boys to assist one, than it is to explore the private sea, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean of one's being alone." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Mariej]

Wow! What an amazing seafaring poem you have pinned in this wondrous story and finely narrated story. I am not a fan of the sea, but on dry land, I am more than happy to read your poem, Pete. Nice depiction, excellent use of metaphor and other figures of speech all go to creating this sublime metaphoric gem. Enjoyed reading! Thank you for sharing, dear poet...

[Pete]

thank you for sharing kind thoughts. it is appreciated.

[Mariej]

Most welcome always, dear poet...

[Davidgeo]

Who do you think is better... Victor Wooten or Larry Graham?

[Pete]

that's a difficult question to answer. they're both highly skilled, talented masters but if i was forced to choose i would probably say larry graham.

[Davidgeo]

I think I agree with you. Victor Wooten may be technically better at playing the instrument but, he wouldn't be playing like that without Larry; and Larry Graham could perform on all levels, not just the instrument that man was a true performer. Victor Wooten is, no offense to Victor Wooten's immense talent, kinda boring compared to Larry Graham. It helps Larry being a fundamental part of sly and the family stone quite a bit though... I love Bela Fleck and all the hippy banjo super musician madness with the Flecktones but, they weren't quite as singular as sly and the family stone. Culturally or musically... they were less talented but the music was less clinical. In my opinion, I don't really know what I'm talking about... there's too much music out there, soon AI will make indistinguishably good music that sounds similar but not the same but technically just as good (based on their music).

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous. I lived on a sail boat in Ventura California with my Dad and brother when I was a teenager. This brought back memories.

[Pete]

seems as though you''ve done some interesting things in your life which is great fuel for a writer. thank you for sharing thoughts and memories twc.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Ahoy mate!
I felt like I was on the ship...
when the seas are silently, secretly, soothing...before the storm.
j.

[Pete]

hmm. glad to hear that, just don't ever walk the plank.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Pete... an amazing Sea-faring poem that has captured the warmth of a Summers Day... after a Night of thunder Storms. softly, Pat

[Pete]

nature at it finest. peaceful blessings caressing. much appreciated pat.