Frederick And Geraldine (Part 5) Poem by Marieta Maglas

The ship had left the port two hours before Geraldine
Said, ‘'I feel that I'll never turn back here again! ''
She passed through the waiting line formed to use the latrine.
Suddenly, she heard a thunder in that rush of rain.


They had insufficient fuel, but enough food to last
Until their arrival in Çanakkale; the kitchen
Was quite large and Maya started to cook very fast.
''Maya, what smells so good? '' She said, '' the last fried chicken.''


Ibrahim was seventeen years old, and he helped them
Prepare the breakfast for the passengers; he entered
To bring a basket of coal and jet. ‘'It looks like a gem.''
He took a coal into his hand to see if it was splintered.


''It is increasingly difficult to sleep at night, ''
Geraldine said; the ship was sailing forward slowly.
The waves were small, and a galleon came into their sight.
It had the color of those waters being shoaly.


'Twas a commercial one sailing in the same direction.
A gust of wind ruffled her hair and snatched her blue bow.
The splashing waves with the rain drops were in the connection.
That ship was sailing fast, but none of their sailors knew how.


Maya took the kettle of water coming to a boil;
Prepared some bread with butter and some cheese for the people-
Twenty passengers and fifteen sailors freed from toil.
The bells that rang were like those being in a steeple.


There was a bang as the ship might have been hit by a reef.
Sam had looked up and had said that the square sail
Deteriorated slightly in the wind; then, the chief
Asked Sam to repair it.''There are two techniques that never fail.''


''Do you see that ship in the distance, on the horizon? ''
''It must be a Spanish galleon bringing cocaine
Laced with some wine, '' said Brisbon whose face was wrinkled and wizen.
''They sail across the Pacific Ocean from New Spain.''


''They're longer, lower and narrower, with a square tuck stern
And have snouts projecting forward from the bows below
The forecastle level.'' They forced their eyes to discern
The sun rising and making the water have a golden glow.


'' These galleons are fast and very maneuverable.
They enable the seamen to sail closer to the wind, ''
Said Fargo.''Old ship's problems are innumerable.''
Freddy said, '' a thought of buying a new ship is in my mind.''


(...to be continued.)

Poem by Marieta Maglas