They move quickly, grab the young deckhand
wipe the foam from his mouth
inhale, a silent wish
that they've found him in time
arrived before the Angel Gabriel
leans forward
to touch the water's
surface &
blow his trumpet
ripples bouncing across
the morning waves
calling the young
man home.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The deckhand, Galbraith, desperately wants a smoke
When the call came to jump
he leapt with cigarette in mouth.
Two hours on the raft
hands & feet paddling
through water ready to freeze
calling to the occasional car
the only sign along shore
until they see the Gibbons' porch light
isn't enough to distract him
from what he lost.
he leapt with cigarette in mouth.
Two hours on the raft
hands & feet paddling
through water ready to freeze
calling to the occasional car
the only sign along shore
until they see the Gibbons' porch light
isn't enough to distract him
from what he lost.
Mrs. Gibbons' kitchen acts as unofficial headquarters
She thought the voices
came from a party breaking up
along the shore
until men stumbled
into her kitchen
fresh water drunk.
Is a blanket pulled tight,
a clutched mug of coffee,
more powerful
than the freezing water
the near drowning
& desperate search for missing friends?
They gathered around her stove
first the Hibou crew then
the search party
between shifts on boats
sharing that space of warmth
that moment of safety.
came from a party breaking up
along the shore
until men stumbled
into her kitchen
fresh water drunk.
Is a blanket pulled tight,
a clutched mug of coffee,
more powerful
than the freezing water
the near drowning
& desperate search for missing friends?
They gathered around her stove
first the Hibou crew then
the search party
between shifts on boats
sharing that space of warmth
that moment of safety.
Rescue Squad
Racing to the Gibbon's farm
they've misunderstood the call,
heard Hydro
rather than Hibou
2 ambulances lost
on the back roads
looking for a crew of city workers.
they've misunderstood the call,
heard Hydro
rather than Hibou
2 ambulances lost
on the back roads
looking for a crew of city workers.
Before breakfast was ever served
Working at the 11th street Mission
Chester Dunham's wife
could not answer the Minister
as he passed through the room
commenting,
looking for solace in a friendly face
'Shame about the Hibou,' he said
not knowing her husband
was on board.
Chester Dunham's wife
could not answer the Minister
as he passed through the room
commenting,
looking for solace in a friendly face
'Shame about the Hibou,' he said
not knowing her husband
was on board.
Dressing for the weather
They dragged him from the water
without a coat.
'Proof,' the newspaper said
'the Captain gave
a gallant bid for his life'
discarded anything
that might weigh him down,
work against him
in the waves.
You think how cold
he must have felt
like slipping along wet rocks
and landing in the river
friends leading you home (jeans
stiffening as you walk)
to your mother, angry
because you shouldn't have been
anywhere near the water,
especially this time of year
with heavy coats to drag you under
but she brings you soup
checks for a fever
kisses the top of your head
because you are safe.
A grappling hook
searched the bottom, gloveless hands
gripped the handle
dropped into icy waters
snow falls around them
as the Captain's body is lifted into
the arms of the search party.
without a coat.
'Proof,' the newspaper said
'the Captain gave
a gallant bid for his life'
discarded anything
that might weigh him down,
work against him
in the waves.
You think how cold
he must have felt
like slipping along wet rocks
and landing in the river
friends leading you home (jeans
stiffening as you walk)
to your mother, angry
because you shouldn't have been
anywhere near the water,
especially this time of year
with heavy coats to drag you under
but she brings you soup
checks for a fever
kisses the top of your head
because you are safe.
A grappling hook
searched the bottom, gloveless hands
gripped the handle
dropped into icy waters
snow falls around them
as the Captain's body is lifted into
the arms of the search party.
A newpaper photo describes the scene
Dishes
a toothbrush
deck chairs
a mattress
cupboards
candles
a thin grey coat
soap
a few books
a pillow
a gramed photograph
Carl Davey's car
driving into the shallow water, as men
on the running board reach
for James Minard's body.
a toothbrush
deck chairs
a mattress
cupboards
candles
a thin grey coat
soap
a few books
a pillow
a gramed photograph
Carl Davey's car
driving into the shallow water, as men
on the running board reach
for James Minard's body.
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