WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR A STORY?

[Vic Jefferies]

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR A STORY?

Would you like to hear a story,
a story about the sea -
would you like to hear a story
of how it used to be?

Of how we climbed the rigging,
yes, climbed that wooden mast
and of how we set the mainsails
to make those ships sail fast

And how when the waves came breaking,
breaking across the bow,
how we stood our watch on deck
and held on, God knows how?

How we crawled along the decks,
those cold decks of icy glass,
and how we hoped and prayed
for those awful storms to pass?

How the ships were thrown and tossed,
tossed as hard as could be
and of the many men we lost
to that cruel and angry sea?

How the captains flogged us
yes, flogged us for our pay,
flailed us till we crawled below
and in our wet bunks we’d lay?

How we lived on beef and biscuits,
weevily biscuits full of holes
and how the sun burnt our backs
almost burnt our very souls?

Of how when we made the harbour,
that warm harbour of content,
how we would drink that devil rum
till our meagre pay was spent

And how when we’d spent our money,
spent it all, the very last,
how we would go and sign again
to sail before the mast?

Now when the wild winds come howling,
a howling across the sky,
how I wish that I was sailing
and could watch the salt spray fly,

But no more I’ll go a sailing,
sailing o’er the deep blue sea,
there’s a different ship a waiting
waiting for me at the quay.

Soon my shipmates will sign on,
yes, all sign on there with me
and we will all sail to heaven
to heaven and not to sea.

Yes, we will all go a sailing,
sailing through those pearly gates
and we’ll sail right up to Jesus
and he’ll call us all his mates!

Vic Jefferies (2011)

[Maureen K Clifford]

Something to look forward to that final voyage Vic...I hope my mates are waiting up there as well - but mine are four legged.

Really loved the concept behind this and the repetitive use of words throughout really works - I can actually visualize this as a song - like an old fashioned sea shanty???? I reckon it would work well , wish I could write music 'cause I can hear the tune

Cheers

Maureen

[Neville Briggs]

Good one Vic. We talk about the bush a fair bit and I think sometimes we forget that modern Australia owes a great deal to sailors.

[william williams]

Thank You Vic.

I reckon a good ship and your mates are like a good horse and your mates they all belong together.

Bill Williams

[Heather]

Good one Vic. Enjoyed the voyage. I agree with Maureen, it does sound a bit like a sea shanty.

Heather

[Vic Jefferies]

G'day Maureen, Neville, William and Maureen.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and glad that you all enjoyed the poem.
Tried to make it a cross between a shanty and a poem and it seems I may have succeeded.
Vic

[Zondrae]

morning Vic,

I am so, so happy to see you writing again. I know you have had a dry spell but that seems to have passed. I think it is because you have been away from the 'circuit' for soooo long. I asked Barry to do "'Bluey, Jack and Me' on Anzac Day but he said he hasn't done it for so long that he would rather not. Pity it is a cracker of a poem. Perhaps you might post it? I don't think it has come up since the 'new' site has been going.

I'm in for Majors Creek and maybe Kangaroo Valley. I hope you are able to put in for Illawarra next January. With no David Meyers, we are missing too many of our old crew.

[Vic Jefferies]

Good On You Zondrae,

Thanks for the encouragement and there are a few new poems making there way to the surface of my weary old mind. Glad to see you are getting bookings for the festivals and we hope to be back on the track in the not too distant future. Just by coincidence I was reading Dave Meyers' book yesterday and noticed that an old bloke with a grey beard and a hat appears in the distance over Dave's shoulder in the picture of him on the front cover!
I'll see what I can do about posting Bluey, Jack and Me for you though after all your praise I am a little apprehensive that it may not live up to your recollections!

Vic

[Duncan Williams]

G'day Vic, enjoyed your story! keep up the good work.

Duncan.

[Vic Jefferies]

G'day Duncan,

Good to hear from you and I am happy that you enjoyed the poem.

Vic