Bon Voyage

She stood and she watched as the storm came in

With the wreck of the Unicorn,

Its forward cabins under the swell,

Its masts so high and forlorn,

Her sailors dashed on the wicked rocks 

To colour the blood-red foam,

‘Oh where, oh where is my sister Kate,’

She cried with a blood-red moan.

I reached on out and I spread the shawl

To cover her auburn hair,

The wind and rain in our faces as

I stood by the wall, with Claire,

The wreck was merely a hundred yards,

Was foundering near the shore,

With not a single man on the spars

Where the sail had billowed before.

We heard the bowsprit grind on the rocks,

The rudder tear from the post,

And Claire gave out the cry of the lost

To call for the customs boat,

The waves came thundering onto the shore

Flung spindrift high in the air,

Its mist obscured what the waves had lured

To drift in a mute despair.

‘How may I save my sister Kate,’ she cried,

But I couldn’t tell,

The Unicorn was coming apart

Was bound on its trip to hell,

And Kate by locking her cabin door

To keep out the surging sea,

Had forged herself a coffin before

The schooner had ceased to be.

We found her there in the flooded room

With the wreck cast up on the shore,

The moment the storm had shed its gloom

And the sun shone bright once more,

With gentle currents making her sway

And seaweed caught in her hair,

She held a locket her sister gave

With the line, ‘Bon voyage, Claire.’

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[M. L. F.]

I mean, what can be said? The last two lines in many places were so beautifully descriptive and flat out emotional that it impresses me! ..... "With not a single man on the spars....Where the sail had billowed before.", in example... And...."Its mist obscured what the waves had lured...To drift in a mute despair."
And the way you always end your poems!! You don't just write a poem, you tell deeply intertwined tales with clear beginnings and an emotionally powerful ends! The last paragraph is so touching and gorgeously sad, it just pulls at the heart... You have a real gift... Misty

[Terrence Chang]

Well written Mr David. Love the way you write and the way you write your words. I liked the third stanza the most

[No one]

that's such a brilliant piece! and the "Bon Voyage, Claire" was a sentence of connection!

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Your poems are so cleverly crafted and intertwined with mystery. Another good story David.

[softlyfall]

A seafaring tale, and a pending ghost story all at once! It makes for an Ophelia sort of mental image, one that has universal appeal.
The Unicorn, now there is a wonderful name.

[R Smith]

such a desperately sad story David, the ending is stunning in that it is so unexpected but beautifully written to, I have to say you created a real gem here but then you always do my friend :)

[E G TEN]

A fine read Mr. Paget, this one has a sad but somehow a feel goo moment at the end. We always hold to the memories of our love ones in the last moments of our lives. This is a credible piece dwar poet, very cool
Thanks EG

[Barbz]

The sea is unsympathetic sending many a schooner or other crafts that carry humanity to the depths of despair. Your descriptions bring these horrible and heart-wrenching scenarios to life. Your depiction or reference to Kate closing her cabin door, thus creating her own ultimate coffin was so clearly penned, as was the tenderness of finding Kate clutching the locket that Claire gave her, engraved Bon Voyage! You brought this tale to Life......in few, but powerful words....Thank you...Barbz

[richieb]

Sad poem, masterfully written. You captured the sea, the wreck, and feelings for the lost sister very well. The poem ended only the way you chose. Great imagery and description. Thank you for another great write. Richie.

[Lyndy]

I love this poem, it's an interesting one. Keep up the good work! :D