We set sail for different shores
A chance to greet new horizons
And carve a name where once was none
To plant our feet on holy ground,
We threw our maps into the sea
To trust to luck and winking stars
And casting dreams upon the winds
Our faith forever in the brine,
We sought the land birds on the wing
Strained our ears to hear their song
And when the call came from the crow
We took to task with hungry hands,
We welcomed in the virgin green
As if we’d never loved before
And set our rootless feet upon the shore
But never felt the tendrils grow,
We let our restless eyes look back
To all the things we’d left behind
And heard our past love’s whispered words:
“Come back, come back, come home to me.”
© All original writing copyright Chris Nelson 2018
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A sea shanty of wanderlust
… Wonderfully written, Chris.
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Absolutely – the grass is always greener…
Thanks, David.
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Reblogged this on chrisnelson61.
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Excellent Chris. I agree with David there is a sea shantyish feel but I wonder are you also commenting on the misguided antics of the missionaries and the conquistadors .
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Thanks, Mark. Yes, indeed, but I wasn’t sure whether anyone would pick up on what was really only a subtext of the piece.
Initially I had wanted to write about how we feel the need to strike out, to be individual, and seek some place or something that no-one else has seen or done – hence the reference to sea journeys. At the same time, however, I began to think that actually, when we do ‘discover’ something different we want to mold it to our own point of reference, and I began to think of how historically civilisations have sought new lands and then begun to dismantle them in order to recreate the ‘Old World’ in the ‘New’.
Blimey, a full blown commentary. Didn’t see that coming! Note to self: don’t do that again!
Cheers. My best to you both.
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Thank you Chris. I appreciate the detailed reply. Your poem is beautifully subtle and all the more evocative because of it.
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Thank yoy, Mark – much appreciated.
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Excellent Chris… we will go a roving…or indeed frigging in the rigging. I like your detailed explanation regarding the conquistadors.
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’cause there’s fuck all else to do!’ now THAT brought back some memories !
Glad you enjoyed this.
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I love that song and I thought you would appreciate. I did indeed.
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Youthful days!
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Indeed, they don’t make them like that anymore.
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😄
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