Climb-Up The Tall Ship's Masts Poem by Jim Sularz

Climb-up the Tall Ship’s Masts
© 2010 (Jim Sularz)

Heave Ho! Aweigh, the Ship’s anchor,
Lads, climb-up, the Tall ship’s masts!
Unfurl the sails white billowed,
all pray, the stiff Trade winds blast!

Men briny from white-capped Oceans,
Terra firma's, a distant quest.
Feel the salt spray, stinging the faces,
of the ship’s crew, tossed fore and aft.

We’re compelled to sail the Oceans an’ Seas,
with a plumb compass an’ a ration’s tack.
Tattoos an’ a Gypsy squeeze-box melody,
the Gale blows on our ruddy backs.

All Hands scramble, to assemble on deck,
for the Captain rings-hard a muster.
Churning waves in our rudder’s wake,
luminous, with a strange glowing luster.

Land Ho! A calm, deep harbor,
a smoke filled Pub an’ a bonny Lass.
But the Sea’s, our only steadfast lover,
an’ She beckons, to call us back.

We stand proud to call ourselves - Mariners,
Men without Fear, we tame the High Seas.
Bright stars as our comforting beacons,
fair weather with God’s given speed.

By Moon beams an’ Dawn’s faint Daylight,
we’ll turn our ship’s namesake back.
Heave Ho! Aweigh, the Ship’s anchor,
Lads, climb-up, the Tall ship’s masts!