The Sea Captain and His Sweet Bell
The Sea Captain and His Sweet Bell …
The dying sea captain, determined was he,
wanted to sail his old ship one more time,
old he was and wanted to die at sea,
he had sailed the world in his prime.
He had a full life, never sought glory,
just loved the sea, to breathe its fresh smell,
yet a legend was he with a great story,
nigh on to eighty years he sailed Sweet Bell.
Sweet Bell was named after his dear young bride,
a beauty she was with flaming red hair
that never lost its glow till the day she died,
the loss of her he felt he could not bear.
Seventy years, in storms and weather fair,
they sailed the seas together doing trade,
the finest spices for rich cloths to wear
in the highest fashion tailors made.
Wealthy they became with riches untold,
people the world over knew of their fame,
brocades and velvets, blue, red, green, and gold,
were the finest if they had Sweet Bell’s name.
It happened one cold night in November
Captain’s beloved Bell died in her sleep,
they promised each other to remember
to be buried at sea in waters deep.
Captain carried out his promise to Bell,
dressed her in a velvet gown of deep blue,
a ceremony befitting her well,
the sailors cried for Captain’s love so true.
Captain had the main mast sail dyed red,
in honor of Bell and her gorgeous hair,
a port could see Sweet Bell far ahead
of the time the Captain sailed her in there.
Now the Captain was heading out to sea,
to the very spot where he buried Bell,
he told his First Mate, “Take her home for me,
she is yours now, take care of your ship well.”
Captain lay down in his cabin and died,
next day they buried him in waters deep,
to rest near sweet Bell, his beloved bride,
with sailing days over, in peace, they sleep.
~
© 2020 Phyllis Doyle Burns
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I have always liked to write.It is important to me that writing comes from my heart and soul. When writing poetry, if I do not feel a spiritual connection to what I am writing on, I will discard it and go on to something I can connect with on a spiritual level. I live in the moment, I write from the past or beyond the veil. When writing fiction I go with whatever inspires me at the moment - it could be funny, sorrowful, romantic or sometimes done with the use of colloquial language from mountain folk or other cultural regions.
I began writing content online in 2007, starting with BellaOnline - A Voice For Women, where I was the Native American Editor, Folklore & Mythology Editor, and the Appalachian Editor. I also wrote articles forThe Examiner, Daily Two Cents, and Yahoo. I am currently an author on HubPages.
Most of what I write takes a lot of research and I love it. Even if it is a fictional story, I will research for accuracy in whatever it takes to make my characters, their era, their location, etc. become realistic to the reader.
I hope you enjoy my works. Thank you for visiting.
- Ode to Voices in Desert Sands - August 14, 2023
- My Secluded Mountain Forest Nook - July 24, 2023
- My Cozy Log Cabin in the Woods - July 22, 2023
Ah Phyllis how I loved this tale of tragedy and love presented in beautiful rhyming verse. Excellent job my friend
Hi Paul. Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the poem. Your comment is much appreciated, my friend. Hope all is well with you.
Phyllis I have read and read this poem over and over again. I love this type of poetry it displays incredible storytelling ability. I feel that poetry now-a-days tends to lean more towards lyrical self indulgence and the creation of such a well told story in poetic form is a breath of fresh air. Phyllis through everything going on I am still head over heels in love with TCE and its authors. Your friend. Jamie.
Thank you so much, Jamie. I am so glad you like my story-telling poetry – I really enjoy writing this type of poem.
I love storytelling in poetry – and this one is one of the finest I have ever read.
Thank you, Kurt, for that wonderful comment and praise. I so appreciate it.