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The Omen
| Open Poetry #12 |
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The Omen |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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The Omen From pulpit’s ship he preached in scrimshaw days And belted out a prayer of hope and praise The seamen clung to every fervid phrase Then left New Bedford’s dock in morning haze It was the eve of his first bounty search A young lad prayed in Seaman’s Bethel Church And as he left he saw a raven perch An omen staring from a limb of birch But nothing now could stop this seabound youth Son of a whaler, seeking trophy tooth His father always told him that the truth Would be discovered in the prime of youth He knew that schooner, “Anna”, stem to stern The Captain said, “Your dues you gotta earn The first time out you’ve got a lot to learn And fightin’ with this crew ain’t my concern” They were a mixed lot, anyone could tell Some from Cape Verde, some right out of hell But each one did his job and did it well And Billy Boy, he held them in his spell An image of his father, they all said A favorite whaling captain now was dead But they could see the lad was schooner bred And in his eyes his father’s wisdom read Young Billy Boy had whaling in his vein And would add honor to his father’s name And so he set out on a search for fame But never would his spirit be the same Four days a’sail and nothing came in sight Then in the middle of the darkest night The Captain had a sense of dooming fright There’s something in the air that didn’t seem right No sooner said , the sea began to churn “We’ve not a single moment left to burn” The waves were wildly crashing on the stern And Billy’s heart was full of seaman’s yearn “Put this ship in irons, seamen, douse her sails! Head straight into the eye of wind and hail!” The schooner pitched for hours in the gale The crew controlling helm and tethered sail But some were thrown into the ocean’s cold By force of waves above the bulkward’s hold The ship was yawing, all those strong and bold Couldn’t turn about the whaling ship of gold “Secure the boom, young lad!”, the captain cried But Billy Boy was stunned with what he spied A huge blue whale abrest the starboard side Was staring at young Billy eye to eye “A whale!, A whale!”, cried son of schooner’s fame The captain shouted, “Make yourself a name! Harpoon him, lad!, Harpoon him from the main Just this one, we’ll head back home again!” “No!No!, my Captain, look how he behaves Keeping us from rolling with the waves He is a friend, I say, let him be saved Or Anna, here, will send us to our graves” “This whale, my boy, will be our certain doom It’s either us or he to be consumed Now hold on boy and pitch that old harpoon And you will sup next week with silver spoon” Billy took the spear and held it high And looked into the depths of mammal’s eye But could not bear the anguished hurt inside And dropped the harpoon by the Captain’s side “’Tis I ,young man, who’ll teach you how to throw! Your father’s glory you will never know” And as he raised his arms to deal the blow The whale dove to the calmer depths below And as it did the schooner overturned The few on board fell in the icy churn The harpoon followed swiftly from the stern And Captain had a whaler’s table turned Until this day they tell the fateful tale Of Anna’s disappearance in the gale And Billy who was pushed atop a bale And pulled to safety by a monster whale In Seaman’s Bethel Church now William prays Remembering the raven's piercing gaze An omen from his father to persuade His son from following the whaler’s ways All was written in a blue whale’s eye Instead of seeing lamp oil to be burned Billy saw the creature dignify The truth his father wanted him to learn Elizabeth Santos [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 01-17-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
You held me from begining to end.....I was captivated! I love this........into my library you go!!  -SEA |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Elizabeth~ Oh, my ! This is an adventureous tale, so well done. What a talented poet you are. Someday, dear poetess ... I would see you in bound-of-leather pages and would pay gladly for the privilege. Stunning, my friend. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ [email protected] |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
"Billy saw the creature dignify The truth his father wanted him to learn" Wow... this is a beautiful story you've woven here, my friend. It's amazing where we can find that truth, isn't it? Thanks for sharing. "Where there is great love there are always miracles" -Cather "Love heals everything, and love is all there is"- Zukav |
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Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
What a lovely tale...eciting and bold |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
may I ditto Margies OH MY ... the imagery... the wisdom in the weave and the WAY COOL repetative rhyme of verse DONE for SO MANY verses ... which made for melody of cadenece oh yes--OH MY  Outstanding Lizzie-girl!! take a bow poet of grace. When to the sessions of sweet silent thought, I summon up remembrance of things past ... I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought. ~Shakespeare~ |
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CocoBaci Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 3043 |
Tis a keeper for me PoetFriend Elizabeth... A treasure of a read if I may say so... Thank you *~coco~* |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
SEA, Glad you enjoyed the tale. I wrote it in response to Prometheus's "The Last Fairy Tale". Marge, Thank you, dear, your comments are precious to me Love Bug, Truth can be found in the oddest places. Thanks Paula, Thank you, sweet poet JM, Thank you, my friend. The rhyming is the easy part for me. Creativity is my downfall. But I'm glad you liked this poem Coco, I'm so glad you enjoyed reading this. I spent 6 weeks in New Bedford in my youth as part of Peace Corps training with a Cape Verdean family -(Portuguese only!) Thank you Liz |
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Kethry Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082Victoria Australia |
Elizabeth, a weave of wonder, with a happy ever after Write on Kethry Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life. Patty Hansen. |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
You're getting a standing ovation from me here Liz! Can ya see me standing and clapping from there?  What a wonderful tale! You've woven it beautifully with the language of the scenes, fluid conversation and narrative ... ahhhhh yes ... and a brilliant message! Did I say I loved this?!? Best wishes me twin, /Kit [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (edited 01-17-2001).] |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Elizabeth - This is astounding.. You've captured the spirit of my locale beautifully....(as you always do)... Would you kindly give me permission to post it in my Port O' Poetry for our Cape Cod visitors to enjoy??.... Please???..  [This message has been edited by Nan (edited 01-17-2001).] |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Kethry, THank you, I'm thrilled that you like the whale's tale Kit, Thank you, sister in poetry. You make my day. I'm so glad you liked this LIz |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thank you Nan, I would be honored. I'm so glad you felt it captured a little of New Bedford's past. Liz |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Elizabeth, An exceptional write one for the books. I agree with all the phrase above. Love Sy |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Fascinating...library....places of honor.... |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Sy and Sunshine, How sweetly you honor me Liz |
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
Fantastic.................I am printing this one and keeping it close by. So if I purchase your book of poetry when it comes out could I talk you into a signed copy? You are truely blessed with a gift of vision and you use your gift so wonderfully and so naturally. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Mark, I am honored just in knowing you liked the poem. Thank you do much for all your generous comments.You are so kind, dear fellow Liz |
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peppermint35 Senior Member
since 2000-05-28
Posts 1106Texas, USA |
What a wonderful write!!! You made it come alive for me A true keeper!!!Pepper "A poem is the very image of life expressed in its eternal truth." Percy Bysshe Shelley |
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Jamie Member Elite
since 2000-06-26
Posts 3168Blue Heaven |
It is both uplifting and humbling to know that some little thing I penned could lead to such a wonderful tale. Jamie Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito. - Virgil. "Yield thou not to adversity, but press on the more bravely". |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Peppermint, Glad you could be involved with the story. Thank you Jamie, One inspires the other, and I thought your poem "The Last Fairy Tale" was so true' At least it touched me. Glad you liked this one Thanks Liz |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
What an awesome tale you've told so well! The only part of the read I didn't enjoy was reaching the end... so I just read it again and again. *S* |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thank you Ruth for finding this poem, It must have been way in the back somewhere. So glad you enjoyed the story. Thank you for such a kind remark Liz |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Fabulous tale, Elizabeth! I thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end! Denise |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Liz--To think I almost missed this most wonderful tale...you are amazing..but I think I've said that before...tis true!! |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thanks, Denise and Martie. I'm glad you liked it. Martie, I'm going to Cal in a month or two. Please let's not miss each other again! Love you both LIz |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Thanks, Denise and Martie. I'm glad you liked it. Martie, I'm going to Cal in a month or two. Please let's not miss each other again! Love you both LIz |
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