Out On The Sea

Ah Sailing! The pleasure of being out at sea,

To be able to see for miles.

The slightly sick feeling you get

From the soft rocking of the waves.

The salty air blowing against a wind burnt face.

How hard can it be to sail?

I can surely do it; all I need is a boat…

And some wind to get through it.

The day comes to set out,

The halyards clanking in the wind.

“The sea is angry,”  they said with fear in their eyes,

“It looks as though it is swallowing the ships whole!”

I can see how it tosses and turns,

The waves beckoning to me,

“Come in, have an adventure.”

The dock rocks, creaking and moaning,

Like old salts sleeping in their chairs.

I look around too see these old men, the sailors, groaning.

“I wouldn’t go out.” they, the sailors, said, “Not in this weather.”

But their moans would not discourage me!

I have faith that if I hold it together I will make it!

I loaded up my boat,

Put on my life vest, and set out...

The waves rocked me!

From port to starboard, back and forth.

Then there came forth an enormous wave,

It reached almost eight feet high!

Smashing down like Thor’s hammer upon my bow.

The boat tried to keel over, but I wouldn't let it.

I continued undaunted, I was going to make it!

It took the better portion of an hour for the sea to break me!

When it finally did, I was soaked, all the way through.

I was a human sponge, wet as can be,

Feeling as though I had become one with the sea.

I decided to turn back, still feeling pride,

Took up the jib and started to glide.

Back to the harbor where I could be safe,

Away from the huge monsters, the waves.

The ones that almost ate me alive.

But I wasn’t coming back because I was afraid,
I came back because I had changed.

I am a new person, I’ve learned a great deal,

In my mere hour at sea.

I’m not going to tell what I’ve learned,

You’ll just have to find out for yourself.

Out on your own... out on the sea.