»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #12
»
Leave Your Tummies on the Shore
| Open Poetry #12 |
|
Leave Your Tummies on the Shore |
|
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada 
|
True story, LOL ... pics to follow in a few days if I can grab some stills from the digital video ...  *** Leave Your Tummies on the Shore I booked a shore excursion on a recent trip I took, The money paid, a steep amount, but worthy of a look; They advertised a little boat, just like a submarine, Where coral reefs and tropic fish were easy to be seen. With great anticipation, we arrived upon the dock, With 20 eager tourists by my side, we did embark; A 'top the tiny vessel, we were loaded in a row, Two lengthy benches lined the little boat, now set to go. The captain headed out to sea, beyond the pristine bay, Where gentle, sheltered breezes calmly soothed our cares away; A lovely ride we had in store, anticipation rose, Until we crossed the crescent shores, where tropic winds transposed. For suddenly, beyond the bay, a wind rose from the sea, "A minor gale … 'tis nothing … " said the captain reverently; He forged ahead, then all at once, the boat began to sway, It bobbed and weaved amongst the waves, while we hung on and prayed. As little waves grew higher, he purported with a grunt, "Your feet may get a little wet!" He said to those in front; Just then we dove into a swell, popped up the other side, Some tourists lost their hats, were drenched, from head to toe topside. The captain yelled above the wind, "Perhaps we'll go below …" "It's just a little windy, so we'll carry on … although …" "For those of you who think you're prone to sea-sickness, please note," "I ask you let the others first, descend below the boat." I took my place near middle line (I love a bumpy ride), "I am the roller coaster queen!" I smiled from deep inside; And so like cattle followed, down a staircase to the depths, Where long and thin, the hull was lined with windows and a bench. So two by two we sat beside each other, as we rocked, Beyond the windows, all we saw were bubbles and some froth; The sloshing waves were more pronounced, we tumbled to and fro, The sea, the sky ... the sea, the sky … was all my portal showed. I lasted just five minutes till my head began to spin, I jumped and turned expecting to climb over all my friends; To my surprise, 'twas no one there, they'd all deserted me, To run back up on top the boat, to flee the bubbling sea. "Just focus on the shore!" some said, while leaning over rails, And pale as ghosts, we all hung on, amidst this fevered gale; "Let's turn about!" the Captain said, "We're heading back to land!" "You should have done that long ago!" I heard some reprimand. We rode in topsy turvy, felt our stomachs in our throats, While up and down and up again, we bobbed in this wee boat; At last we turned into the bay, and calmness soon prevailed, I looked at all the tourists … shaken, sweating, faces pale. But one piped up to break the ice, he said while ashen-green … "Next time, I want a ride like that … I'll board my wash machine!" /Kit McCallum [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (edited 02-20-2001).] |
||
| © Copyright 2001 Kit McCallum - All Rights Reserved | |||
Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
at those last lines...this is one part of the trip I do NOT envy! Glad to have you back in one piece Kit. |
||
|
Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
Wonderful to hear of your trip and the memories you now have! You are a dear. "When red-haired girls scamper like roses over the rain-green grass, and the sun drips honey." Laurie Lee |
||
|
Voiceless Senior Member
since 2001-02-19
Posts 686Under the stars upon the wind |
It's neat i like it! |
||
|
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
You're braver than me!! I'd never have gotten on in the first place with the rough water. Wonderful poem, of course! As always! |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
From a man who gets seasick in the tub, I got queasy just reading the poem!  but I loved it  |
||
|
Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
Now that sounds like more fun than an eight second ride on any rodeo bull on the tour. LOL  Wonderful and very entertaining write my friend and I am so happy to see that your vacation was not boring. I can't wait to see the pictures. |
||
|
suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
ROFL... I love this, Kit... even if it does bring back a few too many memories of my last bout with food poisoning! LOL. |
||
|
Dennis Member
since 2001-02-19
Posts 235Indiana |
You put a lot of thought in this, Kit, it's great! Hey, I went fishin' recently, I wonder if that counts. It'd be a long, long poem, I'll give it a try! Dennis |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Elizabeth: LOL ... no wish to repeat that part of the trip for me either, rest of the vacation was great though! Thanks Elizabeth! ~Kathleen: *Smile* Thanks Kathleen ... lots of memories, and minus the seasick part of this ... all wonderful! ~Voiceless: Thanks for enjoying Voiceless ... I really appreciate it! ~Denise: LOL ... I wouldn't have either, except we didn't know we were heading out far past the bay! Thanks Denise! ~Balladeer: ROFL ... I got queasy writing it! I couldn't even watch the video we managed to take for a while either! I should have had a "gravol" warning at the start of this ... I'm making everyone sick! Thanks for stomaching me ... ~Mark: Thanks Mark! Definately not boring I'll say! Now bronco riding on the other hand ... ouch on those saddle sores ... "gravol" wouldn't help much there! ~Suthern: ROFL ... sorry for the comparison Suthern, funny to think this one makes people sick. Glad you got over your food poisoning OK though, and thank you! ~Dennis: Long, long poems are my favorite Dennis ... give it a shot! And e-mail me the link if you post it so I can make sure I don't miss it ... thanks! Much appreciation to all, /Kit |
||
|
ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
I can't get enough of it as a rule but there is always a time when things are unbearable .....well written Kit! You sure get the point across! |
||
|
2dalimit Member Elite
since 2000-02-08
Posts 2228Mississippi coast |
Bravo, As a past mariner, I have known the feeling, and I'm sure I'd know it again, if I did go back to sea. Melton |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
