by Jim Ross
Member since:
July 9, 2006

Catch Me . . . If You Can!

February 23, 2008 06:01 PM UTC
views: 0 | comments: 43
Aweigh, aweigh!
Remove belay;
We must sway and win this day
Of rising seas,
Quickening winds,
To bode boards with more than spray!

Oh, what a sight!
The sails in flight,
Crimson in the light of dawn;
Fully aglow,
Bellied for show,
On a day that strains with brawn!

For she is there
To lay news bare,
For landers to know her stake
To win a prize,
At least capsize
Her victory as we break!

We run for home,
We're not alone,
Boats and seas and winds unite
'Til horns blare
And sailor's stare--
We've won and our moods burn bright!

I stand abaft,
Heartily laugh,
At a day now turned to night;
A flaming ray
Beyond the quay,
Signals nighttime peace in sight.

Copyright 2008 Jim Ross

Comments: 43

Alice N. Feb 23, 2008, 6:05pm UTC
You've put me out to sea, Jim! Thanks for the wonderful imagery. I can smell the sea.
sheila ~the hapless housewife~ j. Feb 23, 2008, 6:07pm UTC
Beautiful!
Virginia M. Feb 23, 2008, 6:23pm UTC
That must have been a most enjoyable day! Such a wonderful race, made even better because of winning. Yet, this poem, full of great imagery exudes more than just satisfaction in gaining a trophy. The sum of it all(the day) was the trophy, complete. I can see you ...."stand[ing] abaft, Heartily laugh[ing]..." You leave the reader with such a pleasant feeling. Thank you, Jim!
Jim Ross Feb 23, 2008, 6:24pm UTC
I'm glad, Alice. The sea is good at smelling salty and waiting for visitors to revel in her charms.

Thank you, Sheila.

Thank you, Amy. You just triggered a craving for some clam chowder.
dianne j. Feb 23, 2008, 6:25pm UTC
I can just see her sails billowing as she glides through the water, taste the excitement, revel in the celebration!

When do we sail? Don't leave me behind.
Kate Keeley Feb 23, 2008, 6:26pm UTC
Your words are fresh and invigorating. You billow.
Jim Ross Feb 23, 2008, 6:28pm UTC
My pleasure, Virginia. The sea is a great place for us land critters to feel and know. She can be a tough act to sit through, but with a little respect her blustering ways can be a great source of joy. Thank you for the nice comment.
Jim Ross Feb 23, 2008, 6:33pm UTC
As I scan my scented bull pines, Dianne, I'm already itching for the next bout with mountainous, rolling waves. I'm glad you liked the poem.

Thank you for that, Kate. I'll tie an anchor to my heels! ;-)
Jim Ross Feb 23, 2008, 7:39pm UTC
Thank you, Margo. I appreciate hearing that.
Jim Ross Feb 23, 2008, 8:08pm UTC
I'm glad, Tinch. Sailing on a day with attitude! Thank you for that.
Busy Buzzy Bee 'Gather Proud Mamarazzi' Feb 23, 2008, 8:48pm UTC
I feel passions...passions...passions in your poems...They are so much appealing.

Thanks Jim for commenting on my articles..
Alison H. Feb 23, 2008, 9:10pm UTC
It sounds like a sea chantey! Nice work!
Kimberly Ripley Feb 23, 2008, 9:40pm UTC
This is wonderful....I'm on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida for the next few weeks, and just love the ocean!
Jim Ross Feb 23, 2008, 9:44pm UTC
My pleasure, Bhawana. I comment on your work because they are so good to read, and leave me feeling the joy. I'm glad my work appeals to you, too. Thank you for that.

Hi, Alison. Thank you for that.
Jim Ross Feb 23, 2008, 9:46pm UTC
Thank you, Kimberly. The gulf has such great personality.
Zara Stevens Feb 23, 2008, 11:22pm UTC
Great imagery!
Jim Ross Feb 23, 2008, 11:31pm UTC
Thank you, Zara. I appreciate hearing that.
Jim Ross Feb 24, 2008, 2:14am UTC
I'm glad the imagery did that for you, Marianne. I love the power of the ocean and the things we do on and around it. My love of the mountains and the ocean creates a peripetetic man; and hopefully a passionate one who can periodically do a creditable job of sketching their truths onto pieces of paper--hopefully. Thank you for the compliment and your own fine imagery of the America's cup. Now those guys have class!
Tom C. Feb 24, 2008, 3:24am UTC
Marvelous, Jim, although my few sailing experiences always involve green and "tossing" lunch, your images brought me right to the reasons I venture out on rare occasions.

Aweigh, aweigh!
Remove belay;

Such excitement when casting off, and it brings the reader onboard in a rush.

Oh, what a sight!
The sails in flight,
Crimson in the light of dawn;

This is sublime, a crimson sail in the early morn, the wind holding steady - enough to make a sailor smile.

I actually love the entire second stanza, but the "brawn" part has never been one of the reasons I'll infrequently go sailing. :-)

Great write, Jim.
Jim Ross Feb 24, 2008, 3:37am UTC
Thank you, Tom. You rekindled the joy of writing the poem, for me. "Brawn" as written in the line

On a day that strains with brawn!

refers to the efforts necessary to man the boat--especially in foul weather. Personally, I agree with you. Lower the sails, run up a mizzen and sail along leisurely in a quiet bay. Alas, deep water racers need all the brawn they can muster to keep the boat on courses to win the race. Ever seen pictures of pooped sailors draped over furled booms? Trust me, the effort is wearing--but worthwhile.
Tom C. Feb 24, 2008, 4:16am UTC
Jim - I've seen documentaries about sailing in Cup races, and know the back that goes into grinding. I don't need any of that...I'm on a strict walk/bicycle/jog regimen. :-)
Jim Ross Feb 24, 2008, 11:52am UTC
I gotcha Tom. Cheers!
Patricia F. Feb 24, 2008, 1:19pm UTC
I love to sail-we go out on the Thomas Lannon out of Gloucester-sometimes they have the shanty singers aboard and we fly along with that same sense of adventure that you have painted so beautifully here...I'm with dianne j ...when do we throw off the ropes and go?
Jim Ross Feb 24, 2008, 1:53pm UTC
Ah, the life of the seagoer who takes the crisp spray with delight, an anchoring for a luncheon spread, to be eaten while bobbing on waves--and with music, yet! It sounds good to me, Patricia, too. Thank you for a great comment.
Mariana T. Feb 24, 2008, 3:35pm UTC
a flaming ray - oh Jim - marvelous piece of work here! thanks. Salud.
Nancy N. Feb 24, 2008, 7:41pm UTC
Love it! Verse is such a fun way to tell a story. Please stop by and check out my: He Thought He Knew The Devil Well Series. Your writing is delightful.
Jim Ross Feb 24, 2008, 7:50pm UTC
Thank you, Mariana. I appreciate hearing that.

Thank you, Nancy. I'll do that.
Mary Sue Searles Feb 24, 2008, 7:57pm UTC
"At least capsize her victory..." - what a wonderful use of words. Great, passionate poem!
June B. Feb 24, 2008, 9:00pm UTC
I enjoyed this Jim. I felt like I was on the billowing seas with the wind on my face. Now I'm craving lobster.
Jim Ross Feb 24, 2008, 10:08pm UTC
Thank you, Mary Sue. I appreciate hearing that.

I know the feeling, June--it was clam chowder for me! Thank you for the compliment.
Charli Mills Feb 24, 2008, 11:37pm UTC
Wow--that completely transported me to another place and time from the opening line. I have sea spray fully in my face. Great poem.
Jim Ross Feb 25, 2008, 12:51am UTC
I'm glad the poem could do that, Charli. Thank you for letting me know.
Jim Ross Feb 25, 2008, 2:22pm UTC
Hey! Thank you for that, CoffeeLady. You've got the mariner's spirit.
Sheila Deeth Feb 25, 2008, 2:56pm UTC
Lovely exciting poem, then nice to settle at the end.
Jim Ross Feb 25, 2008, 3:51pm UTC
That is something this author tries diligently to do, Sheila. Everybody gets off the hook in the end . . . save, sometimes, for subtle hooks to build interest in an upcoming work. Thank you so much for the compliment.
Mary McCartt Feb 25, 2008, 4:03pm UTC
Wow! I love this. Not only is it exciting and fun, it gave me a mini vacation on the ocean. Thanks Jim.
Jim Ross Feb 25, 2008, 8:37pm UTC
I'm glad it could do that for you, Mary. Thank you for a nice comment and a smile engendering compliment. It warms my heart and is truly appreciated.
Cathryn flowers Ritchie Feb 26, 2008, 2:29pm UTC
Excellent. I could feel it, see it and know the vistory and the tiredness of a day well spent.
Jim Ross Feb 26, 2008, 7:10pm UTC
Great, Cathryn. I'm glad the poem did that for you. Thank you for the compliment.
rainne c. Mar 29, 2009, 6:15pm UTC
this was lovely

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