| Author | Message | ||
| Carin
Advanced Member Username: carin Post Number: 360 Registered: 10-2003 |
Captive in the sail-loft classroom behind that door, Cap drones responsibility. In here, through the belt sander, the quiet ...and heave! of lines tested to the break by weathered crewmen, I caress the wooden bucket on my bench. Last year's coat must be dislodged from the grains; chaff from wheat - longer life for the pail, a new term of service. In the next room they learn to coil clockwise, why lines are left-laid and how to flake them. Our family starts to wear a new face. Recitation numbers dwindle; they disengage themselves domino-style, without so much as a scraper to their backs. I grind away penetrol, confident that enough wood will remain for a new finish. Each year sheds all the faded lacquer; every inch of pine and purple heart is exposed, all idle crew diminish over the rail. These novices come aboard in earnest, let us blister their hands and faces, shine them up with a coat of sweat to wear into the surf. My life in your hands... intoned for class- Cap makes his point with a poem. With a naked bucket in my hands, I move to the next. We have little time, we must weigh anchor in April. (Message edited by Carin on January 23, 2006) "ironing rocks into petals, we manipulate weak language..." ~ D.D. | ||
| SplinterGroup
Advanced Member Username: splinter Post Number: 988 Registered: 11-2003 |
Been there me-self- Restoring an old wooden hulled cabin cruiser named the "Bungadoo" It was kiuller work I didn't see the finish of. Very descriptive piece "Caring" Carin! Addotto/SplinterGroup- Only one of many | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 6387 Registered: 07-2001 |
Carin, a v good read, fine metaphor and images throughout. Good for the short list, though thoughts behind that door, Capt drones responsibility. I would call him Cap, Capt is more an abbreviation Our family starts to wear a new face. Recitation numbers dwindle; I see the poem a metaphor for family relations, so I would see how I could say the above without mentioning family directly. Smiles. Gary A River Transformed The Dawg House December Fireweed | ||
| Carin
Advanced Member Username: carin Post Number: 362 Registered: 10-2003 |
Addotto, thanks - it's hardly immediately gratifying, eh?  But then again, to see that wood change under my hand.... glad you liked it! Gary, thanks for the suggestions. Cap is changed, will ponder the other line you mentioned. Appreciate your kindness! Thanks for reading, you two! Carin "ironing rocks into petals, we manipulate weak language..." ~ D.D. | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 6435 Registered: 11-1998 |
Though what I know about boats and sailing could fit in a thimble, Carin, I really appreciate this read. I had always wondered how it would feel to board a boat for a specified number of months with that boat being used as a classroom. I had heard of people doing this, but never actually met someone who had. You gave me a sailor's eye view of the experience. Very good work! | ||
| Lazarus
Intermediate Member Username: lazarus Post Number: 912 Registered: 10-2005 |
Carin- This is lovely, it's so great that we have poets evrywhere to report on the world and what it does! When I was a youngster every spring we would get our wooden 6m sail boat ready for racing season with my father. I wish my memories were clearer so I could write more about it. Your poem was a tiny window onto that family feeling. And the earth, bristling and raw, tiny and lost resumes its search; rushing through the vast astonishment- Ted Hughes, from His Legs Ran About. | ||
| Dale McLain
Advanced Member Username: sparklingseas Post Number: 1718 Registered: 11-2004 |
Carin~ I adore this! There are so many perfect lines. This is one I had to read outloud. Delicious! thank you~dale | ||
| Carin
Advanced Member Username: carin Post Number: 363 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hi everyone! M, thank you for reading, I am glad you enjoyed this! While I'm not actually in a semester-at-sea, I have been constantly in the classroom this past year. My organization is a completely volunteer-run tall ship (only 4 paid positions in the organization), so every year volunteers train new volunteers...and those not involved in class are busy maintaining. Though it's not exactly like sea-mester, it sure is intensive! I wouldn't trade this work for the world. Laz, thank you for stopping by, it makes me so glad that this resonated with you. Nothing like sailing, eh?  Dale - thank you for such kind words! I recently found out my usual poetry nights have been put on hiatus, so sadly I will have to wait to read it aloud to anyone but myself... *sigh* So it goes, glad you enjoyed! Thank you all, Carin "ironing rocks into petals, we manipulate weak language..." ~ D.D. | ||
| michael julius sottak
Advanced Member Username: julius Post Number: 2015 Registered: 12-2003 |
"my life in your hands"... the essence of your work, Carin...it is why new shipmates/sailors are hazed as they are...to find their buckling point, nobody wants to sail with someone that is going to bail at first call to the lifeboats, they want the muthafucka that kicked their ass up and down the deck behind them, who knows how to tie a bowline and a figure of eight knot with their eyes closed, underwater, with one hand, in blackness... with...hehehehe... you know what I mean! | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 3863 Registered: 07-2002 |
Carin, Well done! This piece is definitely a keeper. Beautifully written and I thank you for sharing it. I was going to point out my favorite lines, but I would have ended up copying the whole poem over! best, ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog | ||
| Carin
Advanced Member Username: carin Post Number: 364 Registered: 10-2003 |
yeah, Cap....I know what you mean.... But they take it, and the crew is better for it. This class just started 2 Saturdays ago, we'll see how the new batch works out! Thanks for reading... Lisa, thank you so much, your words me so much to me, I appreciate it! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thank you kindly for reading! Best, Carin "ironing rocks into petals, we manipulate weak language..." ~ D.D. |
