A N O T H E R
O L D
M A N
A N D
T H E
S E A
I was reminded of the sailor setting his sails Bound for the open sea His smack smooth on the calm waters of the Estuary Soon to be buffeted by North Sea waves He knew of Moby Dick whales, Kraken giants The hunger of sharks He knew the treachery and treasures of the sea, Of triumph and tragedy He knew the stories of Pirates and ghost ships He knew the mighty power of Neptune The pull of the wild He was a deep sea fisherman His to mine the surly depths Fill the well of his two masted ship with fresh catch Then bring his haul and his crew home, Theirs then to tell fearsome tales Of storms and waves so high they left you in shade And fear but with an overwhelming craving for life
He knew how to line up his ship into the waves Brave and yet calm accepting of fate He knew how to drive into the towering seas To crash down into safety as he advanced to the other side His father and his father’s father had shown him How to face those watery cliffs Meet every challenge in his way Always believing he would see another day Share the fruits of his endeavours. He was not a fierce man or a cruel man He was a man of, and with nature He knew to be kind and receive kindness He knew to face adversity He knew when to cry with sadness’ tears Or cry out in defiance or joy For he knew he was not alone 179
