White Star’s Sunrise

Olympic

The trams to Queen’s Island were running for hours,
Spilling Belfast out onto the quay.
The north wind was chilling. The bright autumn day,
Grey as the suits and the sea.

The great and the good, draped in scarlet and white,
Stole the eyes from the black gang below.
Rockets fired skywards and keel blocks away –
Meet the star of the white star show.

In sixty-two seconds the slipway was clear;
A deafening roar split the sky.
The, finally, waterborne queen of the seas,
The virgin white towering sides.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
Set the clock as we pass Daunt’s Rock.
We move on, we move on.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
The fleeting sight of the Fastnet Light.
We move on, we move on.

Up in the staterooms, a young Irish girl
Catches breath through Havanas and pearls.
Living her dreams as the ship puts to sea –
The Olympian’s unsinkable girl.

The petulant siblings will do their worst
With every yaw, roll and pitch.
But Violet sighs and, the look in her eyes, says
‘You’re better born lucky than rich’.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
Set the clock as we pass Daunt’s Rock.
We move on, we move on.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
The fleeting sight of the Fastnet light.
We move on, we move on.
Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
The southern route, Ambrose salute.
We move on, we move on.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
A brighter day over New York Bay.
We move on, we move on.

Sisters

Different flowers, same garden.
Ourselves but not ourselves.
A mother’s gift of companionship
Can shatter all our broken spells.

The watcher and the dancer;
Land bound and tight as death.
As twilight comes, they’ll sing their songs
That scatters you and steals your breath.

And the sisters three, should carry you home
‘Cross the tides of the siren seas.
But the sisters three will hold tragedy
In the wake of our silent screams.

As they sail, through our dreams
judgement comes, for childhood deeds.
As they sail through our dreams,
The ocean drowns: their final peace.

Titanic

Any other day,
Welcome her to Upper New York Bay.

Any other day,
Ellis Island’s dreamers slip away.

Any other day,
Rhumb line steers her one degree away

Any other day,
Harbour lights appearing come what may.

Any other day,
Lady in the harbour shows the way.

Any other day,
Glasses in the locker saved the day.

Any other day,
Welcome her to Upper New York Bay.

Any other day,
Captain Edward Smith had saved the day.

Britannic

Fair game for the high command;
The brave ships sail alone, unarmed.
No mercy in the filth of war;
The Hague convention’s rotten core.
Mines, torpedoes, U-boats’ ire;
Survivors caught in machine gun’s fire.
Doctors, nurses, reluctant tars,
Bidding lovers au revoir.

Brave Britannic’s ravaged dream.
No refuge in red, white and green.
Sanguine ocean calls her home,
But Violet’s eyes flash grim resolve.
Propeller’s switchblade slashing down
Test the girl who will not drown.
The great ship shares her sister’s curse,
But no match for a simple nurse.

Fair game for the high command;
The brave ships sail alone, unarmed.
No mercy in the filth of war;
The Hague convention’s rotten core.
Mines, torpedoes, U-boats’ ire;
Survivors caught in machine gun’s fire.
Doctors, nurses, reluctant tars,
Bidding lovers au revoir.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
Set the clock as we pass Daunt’s Rock.
We move on, we move on.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
The fleeting sight of the Fastnet light.
We move on, we move on.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
The southern route, Ambrose salute.
We move on, we move on.

Chasing White Star’s sunrise.
A brighter day over New York Bay.
We move on, we move on.