Old Harbour

Old Harbour > Once a busy bustling place > now quiet leisure craft

Once a busy thriving place

Sailing ship from across the world

Hauled in by many hands

Goods discharged

New ones take their place

Sail again on the evening tide

 

Small boat now find berths to rest

Pleasure, Fishing, now the trade

Harbour side warehouse now are flats

Weekend homes where goods once plied

Tourists come to see and marvel at peacefulness

 

Evening all boats at rest

Weather calm

Slowly runs the tide

Sun goes down

Darkness Falls

Tomorrow will just go calmly on

 

 

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'Old Harbour'
Wild Rose,
As the saying goes:"Nothing ever stays the same..
Your poem speaks to continued change within every strata of life.
History, as in this old harbor is seen in the what is now and what was.
I'll bet you had opportunity to dream and imagine the past as you observed the present.
Good poem.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Kathy
It is just a short drive from home. I have lots of photos from when we moved here (40 years ago)
There are the catstins or whatever the callthe where tho old boats were tied (Think capstains are the ones which can be used as horizontal cranes to pull thboats in)
You/ I can imanine the tall wooden boats tied up there - People dashing around, wheel barrows; horeses & carts ..... unloading, recharging the stores new cargoe .. Out on the next tide _ peace unit the next incoming tide

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Yup, you got that right. Now was once now in a different period of history, and just as real for them as for us now. This above poem of yours really portrayed that reality well. It was a truth and a voice for those which lived before us and did so much and then we have built on their foundation.
Bless you,
Kathy

[Coyote Poetry]

Amazing description. Things can change, for better or worst. You described a beautiful place dear Poet. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Coyote
Yes the wooden ships are gone and the horse & carts, wheelbarrows also gone long since


The customs office and bonded warehouse are made into flats >>> A few fishing nets can be seen drying on the railings

A few one man fishing boats and the pleasure 'yachts' are increasing in number

The harbour will change and live on

[Coyote Poetry]

Everything changes. I dislike change and you are welcome my friend.

[Einstein Noodle]

your poem describes a change that i personally welcome ... tho many people and industries wither when such a change occurs ...the tranquility and slower pace may even have a more powerful energy than that accompanying a bustling harbor ..but hey ... that's just me ... strong timeline drawn in your poem ... i imagine it was difficult to choose and limit your words and lines ;) is that the actual name? Old Harbour??
E.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Einstein I wish we could go back to the more tranquil pace of life > an ex-process control technician for you

The name is just Workington harbour > But it is the old one
The line did require some thought

[Einstein Noodle]

ah! love looking up the places written about when they are real ... adds to the flavor me thinks ;) there is an Old Harbore in Jamaca but the pics are not nearly the scene you describe ... later gator!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed you spell out in this verse the changes we see at most British ports. I could envisage Fowey Harbour in Cornwall as I read, although there is still the china clay trade and huge tankers up river in the port as pleasure cruisers ply their trade. A well observed and sentimental piece.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you John There is a dock (Port of Workington) across the river and closer to the sea for industrial use > supplies for the windmill farms,, tankers, timber etc
And further out a sort of sea break with disused stanchions (if that is what the call them) to tie ships to the space where the ship used to stand now a bed of silt where geese and ducks search for food

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Simply love sitting (or standing) staring!

[Zoya]

A very calming read with vivid descriptions. It doesn't take much time for anything/anyone to age or grow old...tempus fugit after all.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Zoya - sorry I have just discovered your comment
Yes we/everything ages and changes
No more oalding with horse and cart or wheel barrows , The nearby Port of Workington has cranes and containers - huge trucks to carry them

Please read my comment to Kathy

[Zoya]

Haha, no worries :)

[Neville]

Great imagery my friend & truly well described & made me reflect upon our own little harbour quite near to me but very, very dear to me....

[Wild Rose]

Thanks Neville - Sorry I just found you comment
Gone are the busy days of wooden ship to be a quiet serene place where you can sit and relax

[Neville]

no problem at all my friend.. I still love to see those old clinker built craft a bobbin in the harbour.. N

[Phill Oz O'fee]

Nostalgic reflections poetically embraced within your text - then - neatly brought up to date! Nice piece ... :-)

[Wild Rose]

Thank you: We have lived here for 40 years now and see so many changes in that time particularly the almost derelict customs house being turned into expensive weekend flats