Leewayed – topsail tacked
in tradewinds froth
with scurvied grins
through sun and hail
they’re homeward bound
a seaman’s heart is leatherbound
a book of harbored sins
a seaman’s heart’s an albatross
a tension darkly wound
Hail starboard cliffs with breaking waves
the lighthouse guides them home
through midnight wails
with harbour lights aport!
a sweetheart’s heart is tied with ropes
a sentinel that’s soaked in foam
a sweetheart’s heart is blackbird song
a waiting sadly jailed.
In morn their ship with tattered sails
is moored, it’s hull ashored,
The crows are pecking at the bones
of sailors coming home again.
Shipwreck by Ivan Aivazovsky
Björn Rudbergs writings 
what a great last line.
This has a wonderful old world feel to it Bjorn, like the pic. Thanks. k.
evidently you have sea salt in your blood – all the overtones of a great sage in this brooding piece – the choruses add so much to the overall effect
Thanks for response Björn. Luv the tones and undertones in this salty adventure
Much love…
Exceptional narrative poem, Bjorn, especially considering the word limit. I love the added touch of the refrain.
this sounds like an ancient folk tale –
The last lines are fantastic…but I loved the description of the hearts of the seaman and his sweetheart. A great write Bjorn.
love the narrative…it’s wonderful to read it aloud…
Lovely and ballad-y.
You clearly really enjoyed writing this to give us such great pleasure. Beautifully done.
There is both grit and beauty in these words – the salt worn sailors hands and the reason to sail safely home..and the rhythm..like hoisting the mainsail..
Sigh.. I agree this one does have a classic feel to it 😀
Gorgeous write, Bjorn 🙂
Wow ! i agree with Sanaa’s perspective…it does have a classic rhythm and sea-crest. gracias !
You have voyages in your ancestry? You condense all sides of sailing into this chantey. Nasty business, that big wild sea. I’m comforted that there are things that are bigger than us.
I grew up in a coastal town… The stories of ships and sailing impregnating my youth with stories… But never myself.
You have worked in some wonderful sea imagery, Bjorn. I DO think you must have a ‘seaman’s heart’ somewhere deep within.
I get an old world feel as well Bjorn….really fabulous in images and words that had me longing to sail yet know the loneliness of a sailor….tired and tattered and longing for land again.
Aye Mate, that is some tale..and I wonder does the albatross sail..wonderful image and I slipped easily into the song of the ship.
I love what you packed into 100 words or less. A tale of an old salt and the wild sea……….loved it.
I reread Moby-Dick and watched In the Heart of the Sea very recently. Your poem brings the book and movie to mind… The out of this world images, which dig into the heart until they make it clear that they are, indeed, very possible. The hurt, the adventure, the price the sea makes man pay…
A wonderful tale of seamen sure, a sailing we will go. Still it seems a sad tale in the end, “crows pecking at their bones.”
there’s an air of adventure and mystery in this poem. the lighthouse guides them home but who is sailing the ship?
great imagery in the poem!
Nice 100, Bjorn. Even through the remaining bones.
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You have an amazing ability to infuse words with such complete stories…the way you pick them and place them create astonishingly beautiful narratives 🙂
Whew! Just made my favorites list. 🙂
What a rollicking, spirited sea shanty-esque of a piece. Wonderful!
Stunning piece. You sound like an old sailor yourself.
Inventive and filled with action. An epic story in just a few verses. Nicely done.
I hear the sea singing in this, smell the salt and feel the wreckage of the ships and sailors bones — weary and broken from their journies. Yet it has so much hope in it, beauty and spirit. Thanks for sharing.
The crows are pecking at the bones
of sailors coming home again.
There were always the poignant tales of those who ventured out who would come back again to their roots dead or alive. Captured very well here, Bjorn!
Hank
Those sailors had a horrible time! Lol! Love the line “scurvied grins,” awesome Bjorn!
This should be put to music, Bjorn!