Endurance

The Kaiser crushed the Belgians, French, and Dutch;
the Tzar groped towards the exit of this war.
A world away, one captain's out of touch,
ice-bound and drifting farther from the shore.
To lead in combat takes both skill and nerve,
and some part--we conjecture--is innate.
Unsatisfied in peace, each chose to serve
unknowing what adventure'd be their fate.
The purpose missing in so many lives
is not revealed in stars, or dice, or cards
Not individuals, but teams survive,
when challenges are other-worldly hard.
His ship's a loss, but with all personnel
Sir Ernest Shackleton walked back from Hell.

old debts

The heir of Isildur called back the host
Who'd turned their coats an Age of Man before.
The Dark Lord's minions fled before such ghosts
belatedly reporting to wage war.
This Shadow Army came with sword and spear
but never got to demonstrate they'd bite.
Their enemies that didn't die of fear
cast down their arms and ran away in fright.
The ships of Umbar bore them all aboard
to turn the tide when everything looked grim.
When Dernhelm's thrust unstrung the Morgul lord

few save the Hobbit spared an eye for "him".

For those who long ago had broken faith

the call to serve's atonement for a wraith.

when and where II

The 'Longitude Act' dangled the Crown's gold

for anyone who'd find a ship at sea.
For such a story to be fully told
clocks must compete against astronomy.
John Harrison's chronometer came through
a challenge to the gazers at the stars
for whom the only time-piece that is true
must use the moons of Jupiter or Mars.
'Til patents let the Market Forces drive
Invention languished, waiting for a prize.
Scant profit to make innovators thrive
until the law let them monopolize.
The first Tech Revolution was set free
by innovations starting in IP.       

Penelope

Odysseus retired to his own realm
to bask in sunsets with Penelope.
Laid down his oar, relinquished his ship's helm--
let others teach Telemachos the Sea.
Athena's living image, here on Earth,
the wife a king aspires to, if he's wise
a partner of inestimable worth.
Let fools chase Aphrodite's wiles and lies.
Grey gulls scream on Aiaia's wintry shore
as if no Spring could ever come again.
Grave Circe's washed her hands of kings, and war;
there's too  much pain tied to the lives of men.
The poet's hero came unscathed through Troy
by steering always toward his one true joy.

Vendee Globe '96

Dinelli flipped; his boat's a total loss
the seas run high; his odds are looking grim
his life hangs in the hands of Peter Goss
who'd have to pound upwind to rescue him
unhesitating, Goss received the news
he brings the helm around to join the chase
a fellow sailor's life's too much to lose
'though  strangers, they're still bonded by the race
a boat that's built for one's quite snug for two
and pointing up's not what this hull's carved for
he did the only thing a man could do
a Shackelton could not have asked for more
an ubermensch despite his human size
the hero's journey's not about the prize

the SeaWolf

Jack London's SeaWolf postulates a soul
distinct from intellect or fleshly shell
that can't be pent up in a box or hole
but may deserve eternity in Hell
a revolution by the Working Class
earns two conspirators a briny grave
and Humphrey doubts he merited a pass
for sitting out the action like a knave
his wealth and privilege can't make a man
but neither can mere grudging toil suffice
it's more the joie de vivre and elan
that elevates a human above mice
a microcosm bounded by a ship
is stage enough to play out a life's trip

when and where

the Longitude Act dangled the Crown's gold
for anyone who'd find a ship at sea
for such a story to be fully told
clocks must compete against astronomy
John Harrison's chronometer came through
a challenge to the gazers at the stars
for whom the only time-piece that is true
must use the moons of Jupiter or Mars
'til patents let the Market Forces drive
Invention languished waiting for a prize
scant profit to make innovators thrive
until the law let them monopolize
the first Tech Revolution was set free
by innovations starting in IP       

flights of fancy

across the sea, a footpath paved in gold
leads flights of fancy towards the setting sun
imagination, if not well-controlled
can slip its leash and take off at a run
might not a ship--despite what's oft observed--
keep straight its course, defying gravity
Cartesian grid instead of one that's curved
could ply the whale-road towards infinity
but then the sun's below horizon's mark
and even as the sky sheds its last gleam
the seeming pavement fades into the dark
just as the upper hemisphere's stars teem
the moment's past, the notion seems insane
and just these cryptic verses here remain

Time

'til Harrison's chronometer came through
a sailor on the seas could only know
his latitude but not his longitude
or how much farther he might have to go
the moons of Jupiter can work on land
but they're too rarely glimpsed when one's at sea
the function of a watch's second-hand
is better served by Swiss horology
'til then, sea-routes were mostly laid due-West
to strike a landmark then trace down the coast
and even when one knew where winds were best
he dared not plot a course to get the most
a world with GPS can't realize
what Harrison produced to claim his prize