ELEUTHERA PRAYER
Oh Lord! Look at me:
A sinner!
I sinned with the Captain's crew last night!
And when we reach this port again,
I know I'm going to sin again!
So...
Pull up the anchor!
Let go the ropes!
We're off to Eleuthera,
The land of high hopes!
The Bridge arches above,
Leading to Paradise -
So they say -
But that's for City folk,
And my rocky road to Heaven
Goes the ‘ Six Schilling’ way!
The old girl gives a shiver
As she meets the cut, and...
Oh God!
My belly's swinging with her!
The memory of rum, beer...
And hot kisses,
Sear so sour in my mouth,
As we steer to the south!
Lord, I want to be yours,
And patch up my flaws,
But...
There's that sweet warm memory
From Spanish Wells,
When, in the deep dark of night,
All cats were gray!
And so in Bluff...
And so in Bogue...
And double so in Hatchet Bay!
Let go the anchor!
Throw out the ropes!
We're near to Eleuthera,
The land of high hopes!
Oh Lord! Look at me:
A sinner!
But...
I sinned with so many, many more last night,
And when we reach this port again,
I know I'm going to sin again!
And again, and again, and again …
The odds against are all so strong;
How can I miss to do what’s wrong?
The Church’s doors are open wide,
Why can’t I step to move inside?
My hands are clasped for another prayer,
But the view outside is tempting fair:
‘Oh Lord, I want to be yours,
And patch up my flaws…’
But…
An’ ‘but’ and ‘but’ again,
My foot won’t fit that narrow lane.
Tomorrow’s tomorrow an’ today’s today:
With Bluff an’ Bogue an’ Hatchet Bay;
Wells an’ Briland cross the way;
My Central pals, my Southern gals:
Ready an’ able when I slip ma cable!
Eleuthera is my stamping ground
From Bight to Creek, from Sound to Sound!
So dearest Father, I won’t forget;
But …
The time for me is not just yet!
Dedicated to all the St. Augustans amongst us
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Gina
who go to sea in ships...to seek love in every port...and
perhaps redemption in the heat of night. A beautiful prayer.
- gene.