“Some years ago, never mind how long precisely, having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.”
—from Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville
Ishmael believed everyone had a special attraction to the sea, and in his case especially, whenever ennui grabbed hold he would go to the sea. Clearly one of those times, Ishmael decides to find a ship about to set sail and talk his way into a job on board. Out of three ships, Ishmael chooses Captain Ahab’s whaler, the Pequod. With foreboding reverence, he describes her façade:
…a rare old craft… She was a ship of the old school, rather small if anything; with an old fashioned claw-footed look about her. Long seasoned and weather-stained in the typhoons and calms of all four oceans, her old hull’s complexion was darkened like a French grenadier’s, who has alike fought in Egypt and Siberia. Her venerable bows looked bearded. Her masts… stood stiffly up like the spines of the three old kings of Cologne. Her ancient decks were worn and wrinkled, like the pilgrim-worshipped flag-stone in Canterbury Cathedral where Beckett bled.”
—Moby-Dick, Ch. 16
Try it
Give life to a boat, ship, or sailing vessel. In this poetry prompt, write a poem describing its appearance. Give your vessel human or animal-like features, or perhaps like Melville, attributes from historical artifacts. What makes your ship unique? You can choose a boat familiar to you, pick an infamous one (like Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge), or write a poem based on the ship you see in the photograph above.
Featured Poem
Thanks to all who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. Here’s a poem from Robbie we enjoyed:
Nestled Mountain Lake
Cradled in the puddle of lake
The canoe rises, falls and drifts
As the wind cascades down
The circle of mountains.
Now that you’ve been inspired, steady your sea legs, write a poem and share it with us! We’ll be reading. 🙂
Photo by John Benwell, Creative Commons, via Flickr.
Browse more Ship, Sail, Boat Poems
Browse more writing prompts
Browse poetry teaching resources
- Poetry Prompt: Misunderstood Lion - March 19, 2018
- Animate: Lions & Lambs Poetry Prompt - March 12, 2018
- Poetry Prompt: Behind the Velvet Rope - February 26, 2018
nancy marie davis says
a sail
welcomes
the invisible
force
wide open
redirected
boat moves
against the current
to foreign lands
and back home again
Heather Eure says
“a sail welcomes” speaks of the adventure to come! Thank you for sharing with us, Nancy. 🙂
Elizabeth Marshall says
I hear the pattern of the sails furling, unfurling in your words. Love the structure and rhythm.
Robbie Pruitt says
Thank you for featuring my poem Nestled Mountain Lake! I’m so grateful to be writing in this wonderful community of talented writers. I am always sharpened and inspired by all the contributors at Tweetspeak Poetry.
Heather Eure says
It is a wonderful community, and we’re very glad you’re part of it! 🙂
Rick Maxson says
The Vessel On My Uncle’s Arm
Its mysterious script,
gun-barrel-blue, moving
as he steered the fragile spokes
of my small hand while the locomotive
moved forward like a planet
yawing into the roundhouse.
The gear sounds, jangle and prang
of steel, were the winds I saw
pushing against the sails,
the curl of the bow wave
as the sea reclaimed it, two ships,
iron and ink, that moved me along,
engines turning engines.
He is still with me, the blue skin
of sail, like an artful vein
running through my life. It renders
the shadows of the moon like storms
and brings me the Sun Boat at daybreak.
From the fine lines of its prow
I notice how stalwart are
the weightless birds at feeders
in the pouring rain; I see mountains
scored and rising over trackshine,
miraculous in a sea of sky,
where clouds of sparrows turn like a serif.
L. L. Barkat says
I love this: “where clouds of sparrows turn like a serif.”
And I also really like how you played with syntax. It makes this feel like an Ode 🙂
Rick Maxson says
Thanks! My uncle was a very special man to me. He is responsible for my love of nature and, though he was a rough-around-the-edges railroad engineer, he taught me true strength and grace and kindness. He was married to my Father’s sister. This poem in part recalled a real experience, when he let me steer a steam locomotive into the B&O roundhouse. I think I was maybe 8 years old.
Heather Eure says
I second L.L.’s thoughts. Splendid.
Elizabeth Marshall says
Rich, just so wonderful. Every word, every phrase rolls up its shirt sleeve and goes to work, playing its respective part in a well-orchestrated performance. I love every line.
Rick Maxson says
Thanks for reading and commenting, Elizabeth.
Bethany says
I enjoyed reading through the poems here..Thank you for sharing your writing, TSP community.
Richard, this in particular stood out to me::
“two ships,
iron and ink, that moved me along,
engines turning engines.”
Elizabeth Marshall says
Robbie, I always enjoy your poetry. You have masterfully crafted another handsome gem here. Love it.
Robbie Pruitt says
You are too kind. Thank you for your encouraging comment!
Elizabeth Marshall says
Mad Sea
We could tie the past to each and
Every one that has ever owned us
(Don’t be fooled, you never really own a boat)
anchoring us to secrets of our misplaced trust
Bind it up
Tether it with a reef knot
And for insurance’s sake
Place a well-formed Turk’s head
In the stern line
Last night we marveled at the flood tide marsh,
Heading home under the night sky
of summer
post-storm
from safe inside our little nameless vessel
at her mercy
still
I could name her, now
“Unsinkable Molly Brown”
But fate may not take too kindly to
A weak attempt at irony
She wears her no-name status well
Spartan and plain
Unadorned
Just enough bells and whistles to get her job well
Plain Jaine
A Jane Doe of boats
Turning heads, still
Funny
How, now I see
Of all the vessels that have given us the pleasure of taking us out to sea
She, just like the two half-hitch knot
Proves reliability is what matters most
when you have set out upon a half mad sea
And I would choose a Jane again
and leave the shore
trusting her with my life
in lieu of those who don a name
Hand-painted in a fancy font
Reflecting ego of man who puts his trust in mis-placed and expensive toys
I will name her
“Unsinkable Molly Brown”
Now
Trust
an anchor, earned
while floating on a
Caspian sea
Rick Maxson says
Elizabeth, this is such an interesting poem to get into. S1 cinched me. The poem was a treatise on simplicity. Loved the reference to mad sea (a real term applied the the straits around Sicily, I learned. There is so much in the poem to learn and then come back to it, which makes it participatory as well as having an emotional reaction.
This poem enticed me to research all of the references: reef knot, Turk’s head (fascinating!), and last, but knot least, the Caspian Sea.
Brava!
Have you ever read The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx?
elizabeth w. marshall says
Rick, thank you for your recco of “The Shipping News”. Will go diving into it this summer. As a writer, it is a good and joyful thing when a reader unravels a poet’s words. Even if it takes a few trips to Google to de-code the language. In this case, of the sea.
Thank you for your gracious comments. I am grateful for your feedback and response.
Elizabeth Marshall says
Three At Sea
Winken, blinken and nod
Owl and the pussycat and their guitar
three masts on a vessel launched into thr azure sea
You and me and baby made three
The Beatles and we all in a yellow submarine
Even an old man had two oars
The rope, three cords
In a braid for strength
Faith, hope and love
the greatest of these was love
The moon, the sea and stars
so happy are those who see the world as triune
Trinity
yalda says
too tired of stiff ground
which couldnt bend under her feet
departed for the water world
an old heart with brand new beat
stands on deck she feels the same
as the grand ship , runs in ocean
like newborn child , with all chances
a new whole life , and a new notin
this time she will hold on the helm
she wont let go , she wont give up
with all sails raised , embrace all wings
no matter what , she wont stop
floating in sea , floating in dreams
legendry world , is right here
far far away from all you knew
eternal love seems so near
L. L. Barkat says
Yalda, this feels like a song to me. It’s just got a certain rhythm that feels as if it could be sung. Glad you stopped by to write with us! 🙂
I especially like “floating in sea, floating in dreams.”
yalda says
thanks so much for your encouraging comment . I really like to participate in your other weekly challenges as well
yalda says
so were i can find your next challenge. because i searched in ur site and i couldnt find it!!!
L. L. Barkat says
Here, Yalda. Sorry we didn’t have the words “poetry prompt” in the title. Fixed 🙂
We look forward to your poem!
https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2015/07/27/ship-sail-boat-the-age-of-sea-shanties/