Forked lightning flashed above me,

It lit a fearful sight,

Of crashing waves and washing decks,

And torn sails put to flight.

And through the crashing thunder,

Designed to scare I’m sure,

I screamed back my defiance,

I even called for more.

For this was I and Nature,

In combat we were locked,

I raised my arm up to the sky,

‘Give me more!’ I mocked.

.

Again, the lightning fizzled,

It came straight to my heart.

I begged the storm to give its all,

And now it played its part.

Excitement grew inside me,

Though mortal I am free,

And when I saw the stalk of death,

I would not let it be:

For I would go down fighting,

My spirit wouldn’t break.

All that it could give me,

And more I knew I’d take.

.

‘What’s the matter with you?’

I screamed back in my rage:

‘Is this the best that you can do,

In this the war you wage?

Unleash your bolts of lightning,

Let your thunders roar,

And when you’ve done the worst you can,

You’ll find I’ll still want more.’

Again, the lightning bolted,

I raised my rain-soaked arm,

‘Come!’ I called contemptuously,

‘This is just a calm!’

.

The gods unleashed their fury,

Yet my boat and I were one:

A clutch of wood to others,

To me, it was a son.

I fought back burning teardrops,

To see my boat so torn:

Broken spars and rigging,

Yet did it look forlorn?

No never, quite impossible,

Imbued with fight like I,

It fought the waves, the wind and spray,

And joined me in my cry.

.

‘Let your lightning crackle,

And let your thunders roar,’

The wind rose to a fearful shriek,

And at the rigging tore,

It vented its full fury,

All hell did it set free,

I fought the wind and lightning

My boat fought with the sea.

I shook my fist with fury,

As my shirt tore from my back,

A crested wave engulfed us both,

I heard the lightning crack.

.

Through the mighty heavens,

The thunder lasted long,

I held onto the sheets and mast,

And then gave forth with song.

I had never sung that song before,

Composed I know not where.

I sang of heroes’ dead and gone,

Of valour deed and dare.

And then I had it beaten,

Its fury was all gone.

The sea had lost its passion,

Its worst had now been done.

.

What a sight I must have been as on the thwarts I lay,

Exhausted yet still noble,

Man had won his day.

If I had not defeated

The raging storm that night,

If I had failed to win the siege,

Against its raging might,

And death had come to claim me,

As yes it might have done,

I would have gone down fighting,

Still, I would have won.

My spirit is unbroken,

For that is mine alone.

The earth can have the rest of me,

The flesh, the blood and bone.

.

MICHAEL WALSH MARITIME POETRY

ALL I ASK IS A TALL SHIP, Mariner Michael Walsh. The First Edition sold 3,000 + copies.

https://books.by/michael-walsh#all-i-ask-is-a-tall-ship

THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL Illustrated best-seller by ex-mariner Michael Walsh

https://books.by/michael-walsh#the-leaving-of-liverpool