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Trade Winds

By Patrick Mackeown

poetry: trade winds

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  • Title: Trade Winds
  • Category: Poetry
  • Author: Patrick Mackeown
  • Posted: 28 September 2006

Funny Naval StoryWindows Battleship

Trade Winds


Centuries of sailors knowing

Setting sail and cutting ties

Bravely waving tears unflowing

Beyond an age of longing lies


Parted by oceans man and mother

He floating in Poseidon's care

Only loss brings them together

When at night he's never there


At Thirty Degrees North she sits

Becalmed, bereft, bereaved

She never stirs, moving aches

No message yet received


So far from home, steady boys

In league with Neptune's trust

In family worlds of newborn joys

New life continues as it must


From photographs memories made

Fragmented moments, fading

Shining boots, brave salutes

Splendid uniforms parading


Return you men, many lives

bound within that imperative

For endless dread are wives

At homecoming alone can live


By Patrick Mackeown 2006

Patrick Mackeown

About the author

Patrick Mackeown is the author of the highly recommended thriller novel The Expendability Doctrine. He was recently interviewed about his work by The Leicester Review of Books.