Ficlets

Homeward Tides

We know the ship
We seek the shore
We know the turning seas
We smell the fires
Of Cooky’s cooking
Where the gally be.

We check the sails
We weigh the rudder
We guide her Westward Bound,
She tumbles swell to swell
With creaking timber sound.

Homeward-bound
To homeland hearths
We steer our sailing ship.
To wife or maiden we look to-fore
Their waiting kissing lip.

Hi-dee Ho-there
Mr. Captain
How goes our swelling tides.
We’ve sailed for twice a fortnight
With ballasts side to side.

To home we sail
For inn and ale
By morrow we will land.
With winded haste,
By Angel’s grace
And god’s great guiding hand.

Land Be Ho’
By eyeglass show
Land bearing 10 sails strong,
Serve rum around, we’ve made aground
With sailor shanty song.

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