In the Engine Room, I was Duty Engineer.
Makin’ turns ahead for
One rev per Day.
Been makin’ that speed, since we got underway.
The EOT unexpectedly dinged.
“STOP”
Was the word from the bridge.
I don’t ask,
I shut ‘er down.
A place filled with mostly unfinished stories. Begun primarily as a direct result of my association with the OC Writer's Guild
lol Gotta love that training! ‘since we got underway’ – love it. Fantastic voice, Thom!
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Thanks Kymm
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Good one, Thom! Love the voice. 🙂
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I’m smilin’! I’m glad you liked it.
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I like the narrative
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Thank you.
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Atlas as a railroad engineer. Very creative and liked the jargon, Thom!
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Actually, that would be shipboard. Thanks Nate, and congrats on your new position at YeahWrite!
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Oh! I missed the significance of the word “bridge.” I see it now.
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I liked your take on the prompt about the Telegram. STOP is such a common word in telegrams.
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This was clever!
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Loved your creative narrative. Felt like I was immersed in your story.
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Great voice. He really is one for following orders.
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I love this – both the subject and the way you structured it. The internal rhyme (day-underway) caught my attention and really helped me find the rhythm of the poem. Nicely done.
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This was fun and I loved the dialect!
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My seagoing experience is limited to one Navy crew ship “cruise” from Honolulu to Long Beach, a stint of commercial fishing in the Pacific, and several months on Russian fishing vessels. And it all was long ago. The tone of your treatise above put me right back in the wheelhouse, looking out over the bow at the reason for the “All-Stop.” Thanks. I love those memories. And I love the fact I survived some harrowing experiences. I have posted only a couple of sea stories. It makes me want to do more. And I will wait to hear more from you. This little episode may interest you. https://humboldtbayhome.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/a-day-at-sea/
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We have a lot in common, I think. I have spent some time at sea in the past and even more coincidental… I took a quick look at your blog and saw your LeClerc. My dad wrote his master’s thesis on weaving and there was always a big Hammett floor loom in the living room. I spent a good part of my childhood warping looms. Good to meet you.
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