Theodore Roosevelt's Voyage Poem by Edmund V. Strolis
Theodore Roosevelt's Voyage
The sea was in a foul mood, slamming hard and spraying mightily.
The walls of white battered and tossed the cargo of fools.
No enemy have I so vile, as to wish him aboard that vessel.
Nor have I, I hope, one that should wish me this watery purgatory.
Abandoned by the sun's last rays, no dream of better weather.
The cannon below strained with the fury of the tiger on a leash.
The deck now abandoned to the Tempest in league with the reaper.
Fate and luck were ghosts sacrificed to the folklore of the deep.
All four corners of the sea were there in a superstitious cauldron.
Some prayed to heaven wildly or blabbered at the threat of hell.
Each creak threatened a breach. Each splinter coiled and hissed.
The waiting game sure to twist the last nerve from out of the soul.
There sat Theodore Roosevelt with a smile and that hat in his hands.
He had weathered worse storms in his young life, his mettle was true.
Life's sea had bled him through and his wounds in Dakota did heal.
His spine was not chocolate eclair as he famously said of another.
In the shadows of the Badlands he ambushed his demons, The only way.
what is this superhuman grit? bright eyes and grinning in oblivion.
Deeee-lightful he bellowed as he measured the demon's wrath.
Laughing at the sailor's protest, 'are you mad? this is not bully! '
Wonderful imagery speaks about him well. Such interesting composition that amazes mind here. Wise sharing definitely.
Thank you sir for your kind words. I believe that there is something to be said for rising above our fears and for keeping our lives in perspective.
Lovely piece of poetry depicting the greatness of an icon of monumental proportion - Theodore Roosevelt, one of the American accomplished Presidents. A good tribute, well articulated and nicely penned in poetic diction with insight. Thanks for sharing Edmund. Please read my poem MANDELA - THE IMMORTAL ICON.
What an excellent topic! We need to write, think, read more about our national heroes as well as heroes from other lands. Perhaps we could breed up a new generation of strong men with steady hands and true grit if we told our children stories about Teddy Roosevelt, George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, Audie Murphy, Atticus Finch [though fictional, he was the greatest hero I ever read about]. Oh, by the way, you wrote so well about that ship striving through the stormy sea that I almost got sea sick!
A bold, well drawn portrait of a man's man. Greatly enjoyed!
Great poem. Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt once ran up and stabbed a mountain lion behind the foreleg? He did it to save the hunting dogs, which were in a deadly fight with the lion and nobody could shoot for fear of hitting the dogs. This story appeared in the April and May issues of Outdoor Life magazine in 1901. (The actual hunt took place in January and February.) Roosevelt was serving as Vice President when the stories appeared and became President less than four months later when McKinley was assassinated. A different cougar that T.R. shot later (on that same extended hunt) weighed 227 pounds and stood as the world record until it was tied in 1954 and then surpassed in 1964.
Yes, it is in poets' hands to use their god given skills to make nation reminiscing her heroes, lest new born become unaware of them. You have done it beautifully. I appreciate it very much. Thanks for sharing the poem.X
Interesting read.. I didn't known he was an asthmatic. thank you Many now know Teddy thru 'Arsenic And Old Lace'
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
4/27/2024 6:05:58 AM # 1.0.0.1119
You've captured him so well! I LOVED the imagery of the ocean... I don't think anyone could tell a story better than you! What a character portrait!
I am a great admirer of Roosevelt. Most people do not realize how extraordinary he was in every way. I intended the poem to be a poem about man vs. the elements in a raw sea tale but what if there was a man that was willing to look life right in the eyes and say give me your worst. He was a self made man, born an asthmatic and willed himself into being mentally and physically as strong as a bull moose. So thank you for the comments. They are greatly appreciated, really.