The Good Captain

He hammered rivets
into the hull
of the ol’
Edmund Fitzgerald.

He went silent
when he heard
ol’ Lightfoot’s song.

Fate intervened,
and he left behind
that grand old lady,

before she fell
to the wicked
sirens’ call.

Young man of Michigan,
half-Scot, half-Polish,
pride of immigrants,

whether captain of a fishing ship,
or pulling tourists’ water-ski trips,
it was time to leave the Seven Seas,
and make his way ashore.

Because, if the crow flies straight,
then wayward goes the stork

…the good captain
raised his girls
on protest songs,

but he was always surprised
by the sound of bricks
breaking his windows.

The same good captain knew
that he’d done no wrong,
because he raised those girls,

to be wild and strong

…but the occasional mutiny
kept things moving
right along.

Little Laurie Paper,
folded back the tabs
on the treasure map dress
her dad had made her.

Above her beating heart,
lay a red “X,”
that marked the way
back home.

The Little Lemon Lady,
held on tightly
to the treasure chest
her dad had gave her,

turn the keyhole-heart,
lift the lid,

and all you’ll find is gold…

but the waves are cresting high,
so steady as she goes.

…the good captain
raised his girls
on protest songs,

but he was always surprised
by the sound of bricks
breaking windows.

The same good captain knew
that he’d done no wrong,
because he raised those girls,

to be mighty and strong

…and the occasional mutiny
always kept things moving
right along.

Cardboard swords
and puffing dragons,
little pirate girls
drinking Kool-Aid
from plastic flagons…

he heard their honest laughter,
and knew he’d done no wrong,

but the Eighth Sea was calling,
man the helm,
cut the anchor,

“I’ll be waiting for you
on yon distant shore.”

---

© CG Tenpenny, 2022.

My friend Laurie recently lost her beloved father. I never met him, but the way she spoke of him made me wish I had. The photo is of him and you can see his rascal’s charm.

This poem is a meager attempt to capture the essence of the love and admiration I saw in her words.

I’ll upload the song version when I get the music worked out.