Ships in the night

Not passing a ship but a stationary oil rig

Over night by boat 

Travelling while we sleep

Changing towns

Counties or continents

Tomorrow another place

Another Language

What do we miss in our slumbers 

People on the return 

From where we are heading

To where we left

The oil rig never sleeps 

Men on shift 

Keep it working

Through night and day

Illuminated by many lights

Of many colours 

The decks and stairs

Work places 

Living quarters 

The passing ship

Doth sway to the sea

Each dwell makes another line

Which is a mark of passing time 

Up and down

Up and down

Each sway is further on

Up and down

So it goes

The camera is stationary

According to the ship

The lights draw 

A pattern on the screen

Of the open lens

Pamela Bush 2018

Reviews

[emmajoy]

A thought voyage and wonderfully laid! Travelling by/on the water really covers a myriad of thoughts and you've told some wonders. Most of all though, an oil rig is a town in its own right: its population out there for days... managing, working, sleeping, waking, surviving - and surely, not always on calm waters.

This is such a fine piece of writing, should be read by far, far more. Thank you.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you > in day light it would just be a blob on the horizon in the dark all lights; the ships movement made the patterns on the film sensor
Nine years in between - a chance find and a bit of inspiration to my engineer/travellers mind

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

love this i love anything to do with boats and ships and water
you have done very well

[Benson Osuji]

Nice poem John would love to write like you please teach me

[Wild Rose]

I am not a very good writer myself
I begin where I can with a picture; that gives me something to write about, also keeps me on track

advice I gave to an engineering student who was dyslexic > put a drawing/sketch at the start

[Benson Osuji]

Ok thanks please review my latest works and tell me what you think

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful use of description. I could feel the journey and see the ship. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Coyote
Picture born of boredom > No entertainment on board
A boat designed for carrying goods - human passengers are an after thought

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome. I enjoyed your work today.

[Wild Rose]

No WORK any day now - That is retirement

[Einstein Noodle]

emmajoy said i should read this..(and i try always to listen to what emma says) ... :)) i am a Navy Vet so i have a very good idea what the swaying is, however ... we don't often give much thought to those men and women that live out at sea on the rigs ... my neighbor is a crane operator on them and has been all over the world .. and he is not even 40 yet ;) the dangers just to get out to those rigs not to mention on and off them ... is extreme ... the bouncing and swaying make it a life threatening event every single time .. and the isolation ... even when the shore line is visible .. they have to be firemen, police, chaplain, cooks and bottle washers all among themselves ... their bravery is as those that serve in our military says i .. just for other reasons ;) very much enjoyed this seldom read theme ... good stuff for sure
E.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you EN I must admit I never gave much thought to the dangers > actually just treated them as a factory in the ocean
Have more pics of the Windmills in the sea
They are built and supplied from our local harbour

[Einstein Noodle]

showing my dumb now...are you referring to the rigs as windmills?

[Wild Rose]

No windmills are as I say Planted in the sea > 70 or more now with a control platform They are supplied > Food: spares etc From our local docks/posrt

[Einstein Noodle]

i'm going to have to read up....do you mean wind power ....or are they windmills that pump oil?

[barleygirl]

Very creative way to take the classic line stated in your title to a new realm of understanding. I worked my share of graveyard shifts in my younger days, so I remember how it would be, looking out at the world flying by or sailing by or driving by or just sleeping for the night. When you're stuck in a bleak routine, it can seem the rest of the world is off doing more exciting stuff! Your message is thought-provoking! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Margie: Yes you read the situation exact _ only an overnight traveller could understandread moreThank you Margie: Yes you read the situation exact _ only an overnight traveller could understand
An experiment Camera lens open (5 Sec) camera resting on bedside cabinet cabin lights out

[Mrudula Rani]

You portray the perfect picture of ships in the night. Drifting through on the dark cold waters, the many lights that barely illuminating the path under the star-studded night skies, meeting different people on different lands... sounds so romantic for the traveler in all of us, but for the oil rig it's a way of life. Beautiful writing!

[Wild Rose]

Thank you for a lovely comment
A shot taken during a boring journey just to see what was caught can be turned so romantic

[Mrudula Rani]

You are most welcome. All the best. Mrudula

[Chris Shaw]

Who would have thought that an oil rig by night could provide such wonderful imagery. You have captured the scene very well, a most enjoyable read Wild Rose. One of your best, if not the best. Your posted image excellent.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Christine > The third night of our jouney to Iceland First on a boat second in a campsite > All the next day and night on a boat > nothing to do just sit and watch the water
So now it was dark and unable to sleep > Put the camera on the bedside locker with the shutter open and see what we get as we passed oil rig five second shot

That was the inspiration > the words as they say just came out bit by bit

[Chris Shaw]

Lovely to capture that on camera. Great job.

[Neville]

without any doubt whatsoever, this makes a fine read my friend....and has certainly changed my view of oil rigs and true.... Neville

[Wild Rose]

Thank you so much > A chance shot produced out of the boredom of a long 2 days & 2 nights sea voyage
An oil rig all lights a camera set with the shutter open for 5 seconds > that was the inspiration

[Neville]

Always keep that camera handy my friend... N

[¿]

You see the world in your own way and present it to us profoundly!....like, how many of us can see the hardwork of the men doin' in an oil rig....their motive isn't to roam the world but all is just to serve the people of digitalised generation....hardly I think they get a peaceful sleep in working days....
Thanks so much for writing this dear, tis a great read indeed...:)

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Tashin dear
An overnight boat trip; Unable to sleep; Brightly lit oil rig; camera with shutter open for 5 seconds (experiment) - 9 years later _ some inspiration

[¿]

Hardwork brings the sweetest fruit!! You're heartedly welcome😊!!