A true story.
Grandpa Jimmy, my Grandpa Jimmy -
Quick as a flash he would shimmy
Up rope ladders and along wet planks
To slam white hot rivets in the cold steel flanks
Of the massive hull held in the slip -
The fastest, biggest ever ship.
Grandpa Jimmy, toughest of men.
Plater. Belfast. 1910.
Grandpa Jack, my Grandpa Jack -
Full speed ahead, on course, on tack
He upped anchor to explore the world
Wherever the Union Jack unfurled.
A merchant sailor born to roam -
Rarely, hardly ever, home.
Grandpa Jack, no man's fool.
1912. Liverpool.
One built the ship, one joined the crew,
Though neither man the other knew.
But not for Grandpa Jack the thrill
Of her maiden voyage – he called in ill.
With pomp and cheers she sailed away -
And though he thought he'd rue the day
There came the ice, the fear, the panic:
The ship Jimmy built was named Titanic.
John McCallum 2009
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4 comments:
This poem I'd like to nominate for consideration for the prize for loadest applause at the up and coming poetry festival in Launceston.It is short and sharp with no wasted words.The noise of 'white hot rivets in cold steel flanks' is tempered by plater.Belfast 1910.An expert orator could pump this out and leave a crowd gasping for more.
A truly great poem, John, that made me catch my breath as I realised your ending line.
I thoroughly enjoyed this poem John. And you delivered it perfectly. Trish
Indeed, what fanfare hailed the mighty Titanic. NO POPE they said! Number 9093 - the ship to beat all ships. Belfast made, Belfast proud.
John you capture in those three superb stanzas the foundation of what metre, rhyme and indeed narrative is all about. A wonderful poem about a doomed ship heading to a tragic end.
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