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Trillium
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0 posted 2011-08-03 11:19 PM








The Passing Bell

Upon the wharf, beside the bay,
I saw a man so old and gray,
Who sat to watch the ships sail by.
I heard him speak, I caught his eye
And in its depths I seemed to see
A glimpse of what life used to be,
Before old age had put a halt
To his career, a roving salt!
Within his voice, I heard the sea.
A wild and strange cacophony.
Of wind and storm, of thunder clap
Of crashing waves and masts that snap.
Of briny spray and icy spars.
Of navigating by the stars.
He turned away and I did too,
But somehow, in my soul I knew
Here was a man who’d been to Hell,
Now waiting for the passing bell
And when it sounds, a ship will come,
Whose sailors raise their tot of rum.
All black the ship and black the sails.
The ghostly crew stands at the rails.
A mute and weather-beaten horde,
Who’ve come to welcome him on board!

Betty Lou Hebert

© Copyright 2011 Betty Lou Hebert - All Rights Reserved
2dalimit
Member Elite
since 2000-02-08
Posts 2228
Mississippi coast
1 posted 2011-08-04 03:36 AM


Enjoyed the read.
Thanks,
Melton

Michael
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Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California
2 posted 2011-08-04 11:49 AM


Wow... amazing imagery.  I loved this!

Very well done.


Michael

Trillium
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3 posted 2011-08-04 12:45 PM


Melton:  Thanks for reading and I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the poem.

Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

Trillium
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4 posted 2011-08-04 12:47 PM


Michael:  Thank you so much!!

Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

Denise
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since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

5 posted 2011-08-15 08:03 PM


Oh wow! You never disappoint, Betty Lou! Fantastic!
Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA
6 posted 2011-08-16 12:44 PM


This is one of your best Betty Lou.

Love,
Marcia


Trillium
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7 posted 2011-08-16 05:25 PM


Denise:  Thank you very much for your kind comments.

Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

Trillium
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8 posted 2011-08-16 05:26 PM


Dear Marcia: Thanks for reading and commenting. This is a favorite of mine!

Love
Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

Verbena
Member
since 2005-10-17
Posts 196
Australia
9 posted 2011-10-24 05:58 AM


Dear Betty Lou

You have a wonderful gift of verse which lets us see through the eyes of the 'old salt'.  His last voyage being the 'ghost ship' to take him to his final resting place gave me goosebumps.

Love Verbena xo


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