WHAT TO EXPECT ON A CRUISE SHIP

 

WHAT TO EXPECT ON A CRUISE SHIP

 

There will be astounding sights beyond excursions

that ferry one ashore, mingling with locals

attracted to your coin.

 

Littered around the large pool on the upper deck,

you encounter sea-lion-shaped humans in bathing suits,

stretched to the max by ample girth

 

as multiple dining areas provide prodigious portions

of addictive food, expanding adipose tissue

via ice cream in myriad, magical flavours.

 

The age demographic replete with canes, walkers

and quiet electric scooters, dangerous

as they zip by in search of morsels to eat.

 

At 3 p.m. today, a spa session announced

“amazing anti-aging techniques” followed later

with a “Happy Hour” to cheer one up.

 

On T.V., I witness Notre Dame Cathedral burn down

in Paris, and wonder which pope will speak first -

the German clothes horse or the liberal from Buenos Aires.

 

Another historic scene - at lunch, I sit near two men

whose graphic t-shirts and ball caps declare them vets

of Viet Nam, strange that they advertise defeat.

 

They sit at a large round table with four Asians.

I would love to hear the dinner conversation,

tales of epic battles and retreats

 

as you ponder this brief melting pot,

stuffed with folk from thirty nations,

whom you will not see again

 

unlike neighbours back home

who smile and wave a lot,

but never invite one in.

 

 

 

Reviews

[Unspoken poet]

unlike neighbours back home
who smile and wave a lot,
but never invite one in.

Like this part, made me intrigued, This is wonderful

[Mike Keenan]

Thanks indeed; I appreciate your input.

[JayG]

How does breaking a report into short lines and stanzas make it poetry? There's no rhyming structure, no poetic language or images.

And while you begin in future tense, with "You will," you slip into past tense with "At 3 p.m. today,..."

Next, you drop into present tense with, "I sit near two men "

Then, somehow, you've involved me, with "as you ponder this brief..."

Did you edit this before posting?

[Mike Keenan]

After reading your remarks, I quickly checked out your first two poems, and they answered my question as to why you are so tense.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

friends for the moment...but memories that haunt us forever...
a cruise back in time but on the ship in the present.
lots of power churns the waves in this one.
j.

[Mike Keenan]

Thanks J; your comments most welcome as always