Up the road

Slowly the blip upon the radar screen grows,
As the dark smudge upon the horizon,
Resolves it’s self into a foreign port,
Which is our longed for destination.

The day ripens and brightens,
And our excitement heightens,
As structures sharpen into focus,
Rising out of the background,
Revealing the hallmarks of civilisation.
~
The deep blue of the open seas,
Lighten into turquoise shades,
Of the changing coastal fringes,
And we can clearly see through the crystal waters,
Down to the smooth sandy bottom,
Colourful shoals and reefs,
Full of a myriad bright creatures,
Which glide under us with ease.

Gulls scream out their harsh welcome,
As the sounds and scents,
Of the land bound life,
Waft to us upon the slackening breeze.
Heralding the hustle and bustle,
Which await us upon the busy quay.

As my shipmates and I,
Once again head up the road.

Sweating in the absence of the cooling sea breezes,
And rolling on unsteady sea legs.
We fight our way through the noise and atmosphere,
Which is as thick as rich honey.

Hawkers, colourful stalls and exotic people,
All vie for our attention and money,
As we find refuge and company in the first bar we come across,
The cold drinks are a welcome relief,
And the anonymity of being strangers,
Allows us to party hard without a care,
As we sweep into town like cultural thieves.
~
Laughter abounds as we are carried into the night,
Old stories are exchanged like currency,
And treasured new memories,
And new stories are gained.
Until on the outgoing tide,
We head back out onto the deep blue sea,
Sated until we can head up the road again.


Marc July 09