FEROCIOUS FRIEND
The joys of sailing help me to forget the cost & danger of owning a cruising boat. A few years back I sailed from Sydney to Coffs Harbour & had a wonderful trip. When I got home I wrote these words. One has to be careful & concentrate, particularly in heavy weather. The last line of the poem is so true.
The ocean’s like a tiger,
It can crush you in it’s jaws,
And tear the strongest ship apart,
With powerful sharp claws.But still, so many put to sea,
In craft of wood or steel,
Or high tech new materials,
To strengthen hull and keel.The ocean’s like a magnet,
Draws men out from the shore,
It’s like a sweet addictive drug,
That calls you more and more.How nice it is to put to sea,
With gear you know won’t fail,
For nothing is more splendid,
Than a vessel under sail.The bow cuts through the waves of blue,
And dolphins swim close by,
The spinnaker and headsail,
Are white against blue sky.A fair wind drives us through the night,
Past Jupiter and Mars,
The constellations look so bright,
So too, the shooting stars.The ocean’s like a jury,
That your life depends upon,
Just one mistake at crisis time,
No second chance!! You’re gone!!