The Great Grey Water Poem by Edwin James Brady
The Great Grey Water
Now two have met, now two have met,
Who may not meet again—
Two grains of sand, two blades of grass,
Two threads within the skein—
Beside the Great Grey Water.
Two hands to touch, two hearts to touch;
And, here forgathered, we
Will not forget, may not forget,
Where last forgathered three—
Beyond the Great Grey Water.
Two glasses filled, two pipes to fill—
‘To all our fortunes, brother!’
And as they clink—like so—we drink
Fair passage to the other
Across the Great Grey Water.
For three have sailed, and one has sailed,
His sins, like ours, still on him,
God sleep his soul! five oceans roll
Their long weight all upon him.
O God! thy Great Grey Water!
But I am still, and you are still,
And here our chance has flung us;
True comrades we, but…there were three
And one is not among us
Beside the Great Grey Water.
A breathing space, a biding place,
Soft lights and beakers beaded,
Then out again and on again,
Unminded and unheeded,
Across the Great Grey Water.
Now two have met where three have met
With curses or with laughter;
And so our Day shall pass away,
And so our Night come after—
But, ah! the Great Grey Water
Beautiful narration of life of sailors when on great grey waters and the state of their mindset.
There once were four, but really only two and two.. but they all knew. Now only two, but each was two so in the heart is three. I know them and love them. It is best to be together.
True poetic touch and creativity overflow over every layer of rhythmic feelings that deserve a great poetic work indeed! i enjoyed much
It's not so mysterious, Jasbir. Two friends have met to discuss and reminisce about their third friend who is no longer alive. Perhaps he was killed in the war. Maybe he was lost at sea when his ship sank. Maybe he died of old age just recently. It doesn't matter. There were three and now there are just two, and this may be the last time they meet as well (as line two declares) . A sad poem of times gone by and friendship remembered. Very well written.
The repetition of title of the poem, at the last line of each stanza graced the piece with lovely sonorous sound. A well articulated and nicely penned narrative poem with subtle rhyme scheme. A beautiful poem indeed. Thanks for sharing. Please read my poem MANDELA - THE IMMORTAL ICON.10/10
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/26/2024 10:36:10 AM # 1.0.0.1119
nice poem...this idea of a mysterious third is very good. I wonder who that third person is...