Flooding memories

[BigJimbo]

these past few days have really opened the past and how lucky I (we) were to have a dad in the sporting goods business.
I came up with this little ditty thinking about deep sea fishing with dad.
It's not Keats or Whitman just something ya'll might find fun...
Oh, and I figured out the avatar thing so you can laugh amongst yourselves quietly...

Ode to the Deck Hand

Young weathered faces with worn hands
On the dock the deck hand stands
Yellow rain suits and salted boots
Blood stained and worn from day's gone bye
Friendly smiles, mostly, for the new kid, this guy
Quick with fresh bait or unfurling my reel
My first trip out still finds me shy
Controlling the flow as the bite excites
Rod tips bent as the fishermen fights
Food we're blessed for many nights
A summer job or just for a lark?
The deckhand jumps at the Captains bark
Razor knives will fillet our catch
As we brag about whose fish was best
A hand of cards on the long ride home
Dad says, "Give this to him son"
They earned their keep riding the swells
Always tip the deck hand well.

Jim Tharp

[Tightlines667]

Quite poetic.  Good stuff.  Thanks for sharing.

[Aiala]

Splendid, Big Jimbo!

Poetry of any sort is challenging, especially free verse, and you've succeeded in making yours both moving and evocative.

Well done, indeed. 

~A~

[Alto Mare]

Very nice, jimbo!

[coastal_dan]

Wow, quite deep and profound.  Thanks for sharing.

[Dominick]

Jambo, Jimbo.  I enjoyed the poetry.  Dominick

[coastal_dan]

Jimbo - Hope you don't mind I actually put this up in my cube at the office, helps me think straight...when I can't.  If not let me know...

[BigJimbo]

Jimbo - Hope you don't mind I actually put this up in my cube at the office, helps me think straight...when I can't.  If not let me know...

Dan, I appreciate the fact you thought this was worthy of putting up in your office. I always admired the deck hands, kinda like young gun slingers making a name for themselves. I learned as much from them as from the Ol' Man. Fun watching them feed the gulls on the ride in flinging entrails as they filleted the catch.