Arrived home Sunday after a week at sea. Experienced some rough swells (for me at least) - sea state 3. Took a few days for my stomach to settle. Work in my department was pretty hectic and crazy, too. With the ship lurching to and fro, watching "The Abyss" one evening was an interactive experience!
One highlight of the trip was a light line transfer with the Vancouver, during which a pod of porpoises paid a visit. They played at the bows of and between the ships.
Looks like I may have to wait till October for the navy training course in Quebec City. So the summer job search begins...
Have now heard back from the Malahat Review, Fiddlehead, Antigonish Review, Arc and PRISM, who all turned down my poetry submissions. No matter: I didn't expect to move up to the major leagues overnight. Haven't heard back from the Seattle Review yet, which is a good thing, I suppose. *grin*
So I'll debut one of my submissions here, inspired by Roddy Doyle's Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. "Pilkington" refers to my childhood home on Pilkington Cres. in Whitby, Ontario.
PILKINGTON
Laughing till it hurt,
Sprinting round the house,
Hopping the fence and
Tumbling with a thud,
We put up a chase
In the mild dusk.
The worries of life
Numbered in bruises,
Scrapes, splinters and scabs.
Lying in damp grass,
We watched stars ignite,
Moonlight hunt shadows,
Sunset burn crimson.
Dog's beckoning bark,
Streetlamps come alive,
Unspoken curfews
To call it a day.
Head, dizzy with youth,
Hit the pillow for
Night's dream of morning.
