She remembers last their lovemaking,
The rare kind, a mixture of passion and feelings.
She watches the horizon, clutching her white linen handerchief,
Long since stained with salty tears.
Alone now she watches from the window,
Lit with one glowing candle for him.
For he was a fisherman out of Glouster,
Brave souls all, the men who set to sea from there.
He knew he may not return one day,
But his love of the sea rivaled his love for her,
And was in some ways stronger.
This was what his father, and grandfather had done,
And he provided for his wife and beautiful children with his passion.
But this day his luck ran out, his beautiful "Lucinda" went down in two minutes when the hatchway gave in.
Now she waits by the window with one candle.
Tomorrow they will bring the news.
Then it will be time to move her vigile to the railed walkway on the roof,
The "Widows Walk",
She remembers last their lovemaking.
(c)2008 Walt Hardester
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Reviews of "Widow's Walk"
Reviewed by ~ Holly Harbridge (Reader)
Reviewed on September 10, 2008
I enjoyed this one in particular, blessings Walt, from Holly
Beautifully penned Walt, oft when a sailor was lost to the sea the life of the one who loved him was all but lost too and you have captured the feeling of it perfectly!
in Gloucester town the ladies destiny's rode with the unpredictability of the Atlantic -- an arm outstretched to furl a mainsail in a blow - and the fates could snatch her husband from earth's bonds --the widow's walks were aglow with a candle as they held their vigils -- trials of sailing wives across the seaside villages of the Northeast -- a poignant reminder of the way things once were Walt, in coastal New England -- good poem and history lesson into the origins of the Widow's Walk -- JMW
Very lovingly told tale, I have always held a fascination for these old homes with their widow walks where the wifes and mothers would spend hours and sometimes days searching the horizon for the white sails and flags of the the majestic tall ships and the men who sailed them.
Selected poems from previous & forthcoming collections together with Q&R apps on each page to enable audio rendition simultaneously with the written text
The songs and art in this book are about our collective emergence after the pandemic and trauma of the last few years - comprised of 5 collections: World as Refuge, Where We Live, In Our Hands, Rhythms of Change and What We See & Sow.
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Peace be with you
William
Peace, love, and light,
Amber "V"
Connie
Fee
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D