Reflective Voyage:
A Bit About Captains
and
Pick Up The Pail, Johnny

POETRY

FICTION

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Poems  by Sea and Moonlight

A Smile
I have a SEED
Somewhere within I am
Hugo
Letter to My Brother Frank
Dictation for a Dictator
An Open Door; Heed It
Toast to You
Gleaming Eyes
Said Ken to Me
Count to Satan
Loneliness
Reflective Voyage
Pick up the Pail
Death Today
Quick Life
Old Man's Whistle
God Is:
Each Season
As If Infinity
One Hears the Tune
Have I forgotten Jesus?
Brain Damage
Church Description
Den
Death in a Jungle
Ten Lines
Nature's Law
It's Still Sad
The Flea Tree
Gain or Lose
Going Away from Here
Nightmare
Talking about People
Towns and their People
Dear, Dear, Dearest
Population
Top Line
Mountains Reach
Upon these Grounds
A Ship?
Let the Timbers Shake
Wladyshaw
Winds of Fate
Sweet Young Girl
Fingers of Nature
The Lord Spoke
The Celtic Told Me
Mary
Poem to Pat
A Free Man
Poem


Captain homeward pays his way
in token dream words of the day.
Believe it not but walk that way,
in token dream words of the day.

Captain homeward hears no rhyme
in broken lyrics lost in time.
Believe it not nor its ancient chime,
the broken lyrics due to time.

Silent memories come his way
breathing into yesterday
Silent memories come his way.

The floating driftwood lost at sea.
Dreaming of what use to be.
The flying sails above the sea
from the streamer's majesty.

The wrecked ship upon the waves,
singing back his sailing days.
The vision forever stay
crying back his sailing days.

Silent memories come his way
breathing into yesterday
Silent memories come his way.

Years after I wrote this, my closest of friends, Artie Turco (1949-1996) and I put it to music. It met some local success as did 'Going Away from Here' and 'Sweet Young Girl of Yesterday.' All put to music by Artie.

Pick up the Pail, Johnny

Pick up the pail. Johnny,
you'll be milking the cows from now on.
Pick up the pail and carry it with a song.

Your father is giving up the milking, Johnny,
and I am leaving the job up to you.
So hurry, son, while I ready a bite and stew.

The job is a rough one, offspring,
when one does not know the ropes.
and in you are the elder's hopes.

Pick up the pail, Johnny.
You would have too,
Whether someone else was doing it or not.