Freshening
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Wed 10 Feb 2016 20:35
Course: West Speed: 6 knots
Wind: North nor' east, F4 moderate breeze
Sea: slight Swell: north east 1 meter
Weather: sunny, mild
Day's run: 138 nm
The wind has freshened a little overnight, along with my mood. We continue to make good progress towards Hawaii, but a major concern I have is what to do about RC. I really do not want to loiter around the Pacific for six months or more to satisfy Australia's quarantine laws, and in any event the costs are ridiculous. I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that I may have to find a berth for him on another lugger, heading elsewhere. He has been a good shipmate and I am loathe to sign him off ship's articles, even if he is inclined to overindulge in his 'vi'tles'. Oh well, hopefully the universe will provide, as it generally does with most things, in its own good time.
Another poem (must be a trade wind effect) for the more literary inclined of my readers. I promised something a little lighter, so for a bit of variety here is some Gerard Manley Hopkins:
The Windhover.
I caught this morning morning's minion, kingdom
of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird – the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous. O my chevalier!
No wonder of it: sheer plod makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermillion.
A poem you just have to let go and flow with.
All is well.