SAFETY OF THE HARBOUR

Huddled in the harbour, like a flock of frightened sheep,
Ships of every size, there protected from the cruel deep,
They tugged at their moorings as if wanting go free,
To test their own strength against the raging sea.

But most men had more sense than to fight the sea
When it roared and tossed and wrecked with glee
Anything that ventured out of the safety of the bay,
Wanting to sit and wait until a brighter, calmer day.

Yet a message came through ‘a ship on the rocks’
The life boat will venture from the safety of the docks,
To save those fighting the waves so close to home,
Not worried by the cruel sea when they went off to roam.

People worked off land by the rocks, hard and cold,
A mighty ship being broken is a hard thing to behold,
But worse are the folks sinking ‘neath each billowy wave,
Drowning in fear, before a loving strong hand could save.

Some were saved, but many were lost that windy night
When the sea screamed and yelled with all it’s might,
And a small town on the coast of the cold hard sea
Once more lost loved ones to help rescue a soul like me.

M Ann Margetson © October 28, 2000