Tags
boats, Li Bai, Lucille Cliffon, Odilon Redon, Rowing, Sailing, Thomas Eakins
Hello, dVerse poets! It’s Merril tending the poets’ bar today. For some reason, I always imagine our virtual bar has a huge fireplace with tables and comfortable chairs, but it also has large windows overlooking a body of water. It could be a lake, river, or ocean. And in that scenic view, if the water isn’t frozen, perhaps there are boats . . .
Some of you know that I often walk along the Delaware River. Sometimes I see people rowing or sailing, and I see cargo ships sailing from the port or pulling into the boatyard assisted by small tugboats. I travel over the Delaware River to get to Philadelphia. Early Philadelphia was situated between the Delaware River (east) and Schuylkill River (west). The Schuylkill flows behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art (not the side with “the Rocky steps”). In the 19th century, rowing became very popular there, and you can still see rowers and racers there today.
Here is the Thomas Eakins painting, “The Biglin Brothers Racing.” The Biglin brothers were the winners of an actual race on the Schuylkill on May 20, 1872. There was a $1000 prize for the winners.
There are many types of boats, of course, and many reasons to be in them. People sail for pleasure and sport, take ferries in places where there are no bridges, or as an alternative to a bridge. There are migrants hoping to find a better life who travel on small boats and large ships. There are huge ships of war, and ocean liners that carry populations larger than my town. There are fishing boats of all sizes. There are enormous cargo ships. There are motorboats that sometimes fly obnoxious signs and gather in rallies. There are kayaks and paddleboats. There were masted whaling boats and steamboats. You can no doubt think of many more examples throughout history.
Here are two very different boat scenes by Odilon Redon:
La Voile Jaune (The Yellow Sail) c. 1905
Fishing Boats, Memory of Venice c. 1908
The prompt for today—write a poem about boats/ships, boating of any sort. You may write an ekphrastic poem using one of the given paintings for inspiration. There is no set form; write in free verse, write a haibun, Golden Shovel it, write a sonnet, a cinquain, or a ballad.
Many poets have written about boats. I know I have, though I don’t have much experience with them. I don’t sail or row, and I don’t do much traveling. I will leave you with these two lovely poems,
The autumnal moon silently lights the green water;
And the girls all row out into the South Lake to gather
water-lilies;
The lotus blooms so charmingly that it seems to whisper,
And break those girls’ hearts with its pale beauty.
(Translated by Cheng Yu Sun)
“blessing the boats” by Lucille Clifton
may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear . . . continued here
When you have written your poem and posted it to your blog. Link the post in Mister Linky. Please mention this dVerse challenge in your post so others can find it and do read others’ work and leave an encouraging comment.
kim881 said:
Hi everyone, and thank you, Merril, for giving me the chance to write about the boats I see every day. I love the images and poems you shared to inspire us.
merrildsmith said:
Hi Kim! I’m so glad you enjoyed the poems and prompt, and I will be by to read yours in just a minute.
merrildsmith said:
Hello, Everyone! The poets’ pub is open! I can’t wait to read your poems of boats and ships.
We have all sorts of food and beverages available.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello, I went for a sonnet about a boat crossing really dark water… hope it is appriciated.
merrildsmith said:
Your poems are always appreciated, Björn!
Priscilla King said:
It actually provoked mine. I thought, “How gloriously gloomy…opposite mood from what comes to mind when I think of boats.” Then I wrote my summer sunshine boat poem and realized that my river’s pretty murky too.
WordPress is friendlier, this year, and now Blogger is being tiresome about comments. So I’ve vented to link another poem. Will try to comment on everyone else’s.
msjadeli said:
Hello Kim, Merril and All. Living near water, boats are everyday things here, whether in the water or up on brackets in winter. Good prompt to write about. A tall mug of hot cocoa please.
merrildsmith said:
I’m near the water, but I only see the boats! 😊 Hot cocoa coming up!
msjadeli said:
We grew up with small, water skiing boats. I only sailed in adulthood for a decade or so. It’s been a few years now. Mostly good memories from those days, where the worst ones have faded…
merrildsmith said:
I’m glad you have mostly good memories.🥰
dorahak said:
Greetings All, Hi Merril, What a wonderful prompt and such a pleasure to think about and read! How about some biscuits and tea to put the wind in my sails as I finish proofing?!
merrildsmith said:
Hi Dora! Biscuits and tea it is. That sounds delicious. I might join you.
dorahak said:
Oh do! Thank you, Merril. 😉
merrildsmith said:
You’re most welcome, Dora! 😋
rog said:
hi all
will be back to read after a nice hot bath, it’s been one of them days . hopefully some watery poems will help me chill
rog
merrildsmith said:
I liked your poem, Rog. I’m sorry you had a bad day. Enjoy your bath!
rog said:
Thanks
merrildsmith said:
You’re welcome!
Oloriel said:
Greetings, Merril and everyone, looking forward to strolling through some boat memories for inspiration.
merrildsmith said:
Welcome! The pub is a dock that never gets too hot or too cold.
Melissa Lemay said:
Hello Merril! Hello everyone! Lovely to see everyone.⛵️
merrildsmith said:
Hi, Melissa! 😊
Helen said:
Thank you, Merril for the lovely art and poetry links!! I can imagine you walking along the Delaware River …. ok, this will sound strange but I am ravenous for a char-broiled burger with fried onions, tomato, lettuce and mayo. I’m counting on you ~~~~
merrildsmith said:
You’re so welcome, Helen. I walk along the river almost every morning.
We have everything at the pub, so here is your burger. You can fries or onion rings, too. 😉
Helen said:
My cup runneth over …. french fries please.
merrildsmith said:
Here you go!
Richmond Road said:
Sails unfurled, enslave the wind
Forgive us Lord, for we have sinned
Below with treasure in her chest
The Devil takes us to her breast
And beckons us across the sea
Beyond the world, the golden sands
Loaded muskets in our hands
Ahoy, me boys! Attend the mast
For into hell have we been cast
And though through waves, her bow she breaks
We’ll one day pay for our mistakes
So onward, onward, come what may
The ocean gives. She takes away.
Richmond Road said:
I seem a bit obsessed (possessed?) by The Devil today, but it does strike me as a good name for a boat
merrildsmith said:
Thank you, Richmond Road. I’m pleased you were inspired or possessed! If you want others to comment, please post a link in the Mister Linky.
memadtwo said:
I really like that Lucille Clifton poem–one of my favorites. (K)
merrildsmith said:
Thank you, Kerfe. It really is a beautiful poem.
Rob Kistner said:
Thank you for hosting Merrill. Today is my son Justin‘s 46th birthday, a source of personal joy and pride. He and I talked about many things. Eventually the conversation fell upon his late brother Aaron. Both shared a tear and bittersweet memories, because we both miss and still love him dearly. That conversation spark this poem. ❤️
merrildsmith said:
Hi Rob, I read your poem before I saw the comment. Again, I’m so sorry for your loss of Aaron. 💙 Happy Birthday to Justin!
rothpoetry said:
Sounds like an interesting prompt, Merril. Thanks for hosting.
merrildsmith said:
Hi Dwight. Thank you so much, and you’re welcome!
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Merril and others. I enjoyed writing for this wonderful prompt.
merrildsmith said:
Hi Punam! I’m so pleased you enjoyed the prompt!
paeansunplugged said:
I did. 😊
merrildsmith said:
💙
Truedessa said:
I haven’t linked up in a while but, I was inspired today. Sailing into the storms of life.
merrildsmith said:
Wonderful! I’m pleased you liked the prompt.
Frewin55 said:
A lovely prompt Merril, which has elicited a bucket list wish…
It’s six in the morning but I had to get it down so a cup of coffee would be most welcome thanks!
merrildsmith said:
You’re very welcome, Andrew! I hope you helped yourself to the coffee!
azurea20 said:
Estupendo post que, conectado con la imágenes resultan envidiables esos paseos. 💐💐💐💐💐
pvcann said:
A delightful invitation Merril, many thanks, a tot of rum would be good for a sailor (though I haven’t sailed for many moons now)
merrildsmith said:
Here you go–a large tot! 🙂
Stephen J Frankenberry said:
Ok Merril, a little late on this one and something maybe a bit out of the parameters of the prompt but a something nonetheless. Cheers.
Stephen J Frankenberry said:
It’s with a bit of a tune by the way.
merrildsmith said:
It was lovely. Thank you!
merrildsmith said:
Thank you, Stephen! Cheers to you!
SelmaMartin said:
I love boats, like watching them in serene waters or docked at night where I adore listening to halyards slapping. Perhaps I can come up with something along those lines or close. It’s such a lovely prompt. I loved the Lucille Clifton poem very much 💗 thank you.
Oreos—do you have any? If so, Oreo cookies and milk 🥛 to dip them in, please. Thanks. ⛵️
merrildsmith said:
Hi Selma. I’m pleased you enjoyed the prompt. I like to watch boats, too. I’m happy you liked the Lucille Clifton poem, and I hope you helped yourself to the Oreos and milk. 😊
kittysverses said:
Thank you for hosting Merril. It’s been quite a while that I’ve been writing and it’s taken me long to pen down a few lines. Nevertheless, thank you for much needed inspiration. 🙂
merrildsmith said:
You’re so very welcome! I’m pleased you were inspired. 😊
Xan said:
Whew! I can’t believe I made the Linky cut off! Worked on this for a couple days before it came together. Thanks for hosting Merrill! (and for the long Linky!)
merrildsmith said:
You’re welcome. I think the Tuesday Poetics are open until just before the Thursday prompts come up. 😊
M Jay Dixit said:
Hello, Merril, thanks for hosting. I am late but I am sharing my poem anyway, here’s it: https://septemberhearttohearts.wordpress.com/2024/02/09/setting-sail/
merrildsmith said:
Thank you, Jay! I will be over soon to read it. A busy weekend, so a may not get to it right away.