Possession

I received an email from Nick McGuigan of the Royal Brighton Yacht Club in Melbourne. During some tidying up in the club he had found, in a book, what appears to be an unpublished poem by Frank Westbrook. It is clearly signed by Frank but lacks a date. I have reproduced it below. Thanks to Nick for sending this to me. (Bill 20/11/2010)


Possession

Oh the sea is wise and the sea is old,
Its arms are greedy and strong its hands,
The strength of the sea is seldom told,
And few disobey what the sea commands
…................................................

If you would go down to the sea in ships,
The hungry sea with its arms outspread -
Turn from the sea where the shoreline dips
And look to the quiet hills instead.

For once have known how the mad sea goads,
With the plunge of water the tilting keel;
Followed the sun down the ocean's roads
And watched the gulls in the fairway wheel:
Heard the whistling winds rush by to scour
The sea-washed sides of a battling ship,
The hiss of a spray-flung salty shower
And felt your hands in the oceans grip.

Once you have known the lash of the spume
That over the lunging bowsprit spills,
And the sea's white horses fret and fume,
You may never return to those quiet hills
…..................................................
As a craft made fast to a shore-held quay,
(You'll know the urge, when the darkness falls,)
For sight and sound of the restless sea,
The salt sea breeze, - when the ocean calls.
…..................................................
So when you have given the sea your heart-
Or the sea has taken your heart-: oh then
You are sealed a lover – a soul apart -
You cannot reamins with the hills again.

Oh the sea is wise and the sea is old,
Its arms are greedy, and strong its hands;
The strength of the sea is seldom told
and few disobey what the sea commands

Frank E. Westbrook (undated)