Live Silver.
Herring boats puffing patched sails,
raw hands at tillers,
barbarous gulls riding high waves,
chasing live silver.
Fishing nets heaving with catches,
storm on the horizon,
battening down the heavy hatches
until port hoves in sight.
Knives flashing at harbour's side
as despite night's black,
salt-barrels beside shawled wives
wait for the attack.
Earning their crust from wild sea
meant togetherness
and held much the same meaning
for both women and men.
May Heaven keep safe all those
who still brave an ocean.
-
Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: February 21st, 2018 03:17
- Comment from author about the poem: The old picture of yesteryear fisher-wives deserves the tribute I try here to portray of the brave way life has to be met when a living is made from the sea.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 73
- Users favorite of this poem: Laura🌻, Lorna
Offline)
Comments7
Hard work back in the day and maybe even harder now as the fish stocks get lower. Good write Fay.
Hard word indeed Goldi - and that has never altered for fisherfolk who make a living from catches.
You are an amazing
gift to the literary world,
my dear Fay!
This is an awesome descriptive penned poem !
My mom has a similar pic
of her grandmother and
aunt who were married to
fishermen!
As I read your poem, I envisioned them standing by the Bay of Naples waiting for their husbands with the day’s catch ready to clean, pack, and deliver!
Loved this very special read! Thank you!
~Laura~
How kind you are Laura to elevate my work to the ranks of gifted writers - my sincere thanks and I was so pleased to read of your own fishing family working together in days gone by to gather and clean fish for markets in the Bay of Naples - - these folk worked so hard and deserve to be recorded in poetry - - - so glad you enjoyed the read.
In my humble opinion, you ARE a gifted writer. I have not come across many writers who can express themselves as you can! You weave and lace your words in a very meaningful and beautiful way! It is a joy to read your work!
"Chasing live silver" - what a line!
Ah - - so pleased that line appealed to you Lorna - that is how those fishers thought of their catches -- - - thank you so much for the read and the comment.
Thanks FAY ~ On the NE COAST it was always a JOY & RELIEF "Wen the BOOT cums in" You have captured the Agony & Ecstasy of "The hard Lives of FISHERFOLK everywhere ! Another wee gem ~ Yours eternally BRIAN !
Yes the agony and sometimes the ecstasy too has to be face in a life on the sea -- thanks Brian for remembering those on the North East Coast who gave and still give so much - - so pleased you found the read enjoyable.
Super descriptive work with some great imagery
Yes they who go down to the sea in ships need tributes to bravery when gales bring great danger -- glad you enjoyed the imagery too Michael.
Good write and pic Fay.
Thank you for the visit, the read and the comment dear Orchi - - really appreciated.
Great write Fay! It's a hard job being a fisherman--which you so eloquently displayed in your poem.
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