Monday, January 14, 2013

Repost - The Dark Ship


A repost.  I wrote this a few years ago,
not long after my father died.


The Dark Ship

What ho, my Captain! What lies ahead?
He stood a while, as savouring the brine
Before turning and locking eyes with mine.
He spoke and, with a hollowness, said
“I sail the dark seas in inner dread,
Dark is the world within my head”.
And the ship sailed on through the night-o,
The ship sailed on through the night.

What ho, my Captain! What hope is there?
Surely there’s hope the dark will lift
When your vessel is strong and travelling so swift?
Wont you progress past the seas of despair?
He reached and gently touched my hair
“We’re going at speed but I know not where.”
And the ship sailed on through the night-o,
The ship sailed on through the night.

What ho, my Captain! Can you be saved?
This took him aback and he thought a while
“I can” he said “but the voices beguile.
Our thoughts are to darkness enslaved,
No matter how much release is craved,
We are on a trip that cannot be waived.”
And the ship sailed on through the night-o,
The ship sailed on through the night.

What ho, my Captain! Can we turn back?
“There’s no going back, what’s past is done.
The only way’s forward once it’s begun.
And this is why things look so black
And things weigh heavy upon my back
But I look for some light, the barest crack.
And the ship sailed on through the night-o,
The ship sailed on through the night.

What ho, my Captain! When comes the dawn?
“For every dawn, must precede a night
Passage through these cold waters is a rite
That lives in you, it is never gone.
At best, the dark is just withdrawn
And we can but bravely struggle on.”
And the ship sailed on through the night-o,
The ship sailed on through the night.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2013
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12 comments:

  1. Marvelous piece...there is a bit of the darkness in each of us. This is a unique way to present inner struggle..

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  2. Wow, so much inspiration, Cos. It shows a lot of love for your father, and the image of the ship and the voyage, so evocative. Well done! Peace, Amy
    http://sharplittlepencil.com/2013/01/11/zen-man/

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  3. And somedays a lot of darkness, and little hope within us. Thank you for this journey.

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  4. So love the rhythm, like some old sea song! Those two last lines in each stanza create a haunting tension, an undercurrent in this beautiful piece of art!

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  5. This has the feel of One of the old ballads --The Hesperas, maybe. The rhythm is perfect, the development mature, the theme universal. I hope you have this published.

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  6. Good advice for those of us looking for that crack of light-no matter how dark and long the night, we go onwards and there is always another dawn.

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  7. J Cosmo, this is just beautiful. (Worthy of publication...where is your chapbook?) Indeed there is no turning back...all ships eventually must find their way in the night!

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  8. I love "At best, the dark is just withdrawn, and we can but bravely struggle on." Wow.

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  9. Sailing the darknesss within... I like it!

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  10. wonderful rhythm Cosmo... I felt as if I was upon the sea reading this!

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  11. It's a journey of hope despite some darkness.Nicely written Cosmo!

    Hank

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  12. Your last stanza is an ideal finale. Hope despite hardship.

    http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2013/01/14/in-three/

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