Poems to Conjure Images of the Magnificent

I have two poems which I was told I had to post by those in the chat room on 1-20-99. So, Here I am. My second post, and now it's my most favorite hobby, next to HLs of course, my writing.

"Split Rock"

The guiding light shines bright,
From the shore so far away,
As Superior gets stormier,
Split Rock get brighter,
With the onset of night.

As Two Harbors gets busier,
Split Rock works harder,
To guide the vessels,
Through the night.

As majestic as the Lake itself,
Split Rock stands,
As a memorial,
To the ingenuity of man.

"Split Rock II"

In 1910,
A new light was lit,
On the shore of Lake Superior.

Orrin Pete Young,
Climbed the steps,
For the first time,
To turn the clockwork,
And light the Fresnel lens.

The day of the lighthouse service had died
Leaving the Coast Guard in charge,
Of a lighthouse with a waning career.

In 1969,
A light was extinguished,
On the shore of Lake Superior.

Both originals. By Jake.

Thanks for sharing your poems Jake.

We love HLs Split Rock & regret missing it (the real thing)when we were so close, Duluth, last summer. (We were expected to see family not Lighthouses.)

Keep writing and we may be reading you in the Legacy!


[This message has been edited by Polly (edited 01-20-99).]

Young Jake,

I'm heartened by the joy in your post. Clarity in writing reflects clarity of thought. Hold fast to your enthusiasm for the written word.

All the best,
__
/im

I have two more poems which I wrote while I was waiting for the music teacher to get all done yelling at some kids in the hall.

"Fresnel"

Radiant beams,
Comes from prisms of glass,
A jewel in the darkness,
Made of polished brass.

As the light flashes,
Its beam of glory,
Many wonder,
Of its story.

Of passion,
Of hate,
Of destruction,
Of saving,
Of death,
And survival.

As the jewel shines,
Its beautiful beacon,
Made of prisms and brass,
Its birthplace is adorned,
"Paris, France."

"Thomas Point"

Upon steel legs,
Is a strong sentinel,
Which guards the waters,
Of Chesapeake Bay.

Everyone knows it,
Like the back of their hand,
Yet most have never seen it,
Beyond the beaches of sand.

Although land,
Is absent here,
Everyone is glad,
Its not at the end of a pier.

For Thomas Point,
Does not deserve that fate,
Nor should it deteriorate,
At a terrible rate,
May it shine forever,
One in a most unique trait.


[This message has been edited by Jake (edited 01-23-99).]

Images conjured, Jake! I can only reiterate Tim's hope that you keep your love of writing for the rest of your life. Don't allow anything to change that.

Tim, very well said.

-Art

Jake your poem is wonderful!
Look forward to reading more from you.


Debbie

Great effort Jake! I do poems on occasion too. Did one for my daughter's college graduation (B.U.) and also for my son's (West Point). Will have to do a lighthouse now, I guess. Keep up the good work and save the last dance for me....

Jake

Enjoyed reading your work, keep it up.

Mombo would love to read what you have written reference your daughter and son graduation.

Bob

Thank you all that have responded, and all that will respond. I appreciate it!

I enjoy your poems Jake. Look forward to seeing more in the future. Where did you get the talent?

Ron

Well Done, Jake!

I've encouraged him to submit his lighthouse poems to HL for a future Legacy. I'm also awaiting some of Jake's photos for a 'Gallery'.

For those who don't know him, Jake is a relatively new collector and a welcome regular at our weekly chats.

On those nights he gets to stay up late to participate. 'Jake' will turn 15 on Feb 1.

The cat's out of the bag now, Jake. Let's see how much email you get: Fresnel10@aol.com


[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 01-25-99).]

For those of you who were early readers of this thread, please note that Jake has edited his 1/21/99 9:56 p.m. post. In editing, he has added two additional poems.

Also John, I think Jake will be 14 on 2/1/99, not 15.

Just to set everything right, my 14th birthday is on 2-1-99.

Sorry about the age error - heaven knows we can all wait till we turn older!

Hope you have a great one!

Thanks, John. That's OK. You were only a year off!

Jake,
Sometimes you have to "humor" the older folks (like John). We're all thankful that he was only one number off in the right digit and not the left digit of your age (hate to skip ten years worth of fun, "24"). He also could have transposed the numbers and you would have been much older (say 41??). Hope that you have a wonderful birthday, Jake, and keep those poems coming.

Ron

oops

[This message has been edited by RFoster (edited 01-27-99).]

Quote
'Sometimes you have to "humor" the older folks.'
End quote

Love it John.
Hope we're ALL around to see a lot more Jake. Birthdays and poems.

[This message has been edited by theShadow (edited 01-25-99).]

Jake, you're an excellent poet. Keep up the good work. I hope to see more of your liteary artistry in the near future. I really enjoy it.


------------------
Keepin' the flame

Jake, I truly enjoyed your poems. I just want to say "thank you" for sharing them with all of us. Keep up the great work!

-Todd

Of course John is never 1 off if it relates to the number that is on the flag of his latest HL acquistion.

Jake,
All of your poems are beautiful!! You are a very talented young man, and proud to say a fellow Hoosier! I have enjoyed getting to know you by chatting with you, I hope some day I am fortunate enough to meet such a bright and shining beacon of youth. I wish a very Happy Birthday!
Sincerely,
Kat {=^+^=}

Jake,

Poetry is the true form of expression.

It ebbs and flows just like the tide
Makes sure your thoughts, they will abide
We need a forum just for this
As sailors love a soft wind's kiss
For lighted towers make their mark
And kindle deep within a spark
For deep within our kindred souls
We find the best, within these molds
Harbour Lights does open eyes
To keep the past, as time, she flies.

Why don't you and I work on creating a Christmas rhyme comparing our favorite lighthouses and candles of the season.

Freedom of expressing ones self is what this nation was founded on. Lighthouses kept her shores safe for those who ventured here.

Keep the flame


------------------
Bob

While I can't write poems, I can read them and this has always been a favorite of mine.


The rocky ledge runs far into the sea,
and on its outer point, some miles away,
the lighthouse lifts its massive masonry,
A pillar of fire by night, of cloud by day.

Even at this distance I can see the tides,
Upheaving, break unheard along its base,
A speechless wrath, that rises and subsides
in the white tip and tremor of the face.

And as the evening darkens, lo! how bright,
through the deep purple of the twilight air,
Beams forth the sudden radiance of its light,
with strange, unearthly splendor in the glare!

No one alone: from each projecting cape
And perilous reef along the ocean's verge,
Starts into life a dim, gigantic shape,
Holding its lantern o'er the restless surge.

Like the great giant Christopher it stands
Upon the brink of the tempestuous wave,
Wading far out among the rocks and sands,
The night o'er taken mariner to save.

And the great ships sail outward and return
Bending and bowing o'er the billowy swells,
And ever joyful, as they see it burn
They wave their silent welcome and farewells.

They come forth from the darkness, and their sails
Gleam for a moment only in the blaze,
And eager faces, as the light unveils
Gaze at the tower, and vanish while they gaze.

The mariner remembers when a child,
on his first voyage, he saw it fade and sink
And when returning from adventures wild,
He saw it rise again o'er ocean's brink.

Steadfast, serene, immovable, the same,
Year after year, through all the silent night
Burns on forevermore that quenchless flame,
Shines on that inextinguishable light!

It sees the ocean to its bosom clasp
The rocks and sea-sand with the kiss of peace:
It sees the wild winds lift it in their grasp,
And hold it up, and shake it like a fleece.

The startled waves leap over it; the storm
Smites it with all the scourges of the rain,
And steadily against its solid form
press the great shoulders of the hurricane.

The sea-bird wheeling round it, with the din
of wings and winds and solitary cries,
Blinded and maddened by the light within,
Dashes himself against the glare, and dies.

A new Prometheus, chained upon the rock,
Still grasping in his hand the fire of love,
it does not hear the cry, nor heed the shock,
but hails the mariner with words of love.

"Sail on!" it says: "sail on, ye stately ships!
And with your floating bridge the ocean span;
Be mine to guard this light from all eclipse.
Be yours to bring man neared unto man.

-The Lighthouse-
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-

"Cape Agulhaus Light"

Shining bright,
On the tip of the world,
Is a tower made of stone,
With stripes of red and white,
It has guided ships since times of old,
As they floated by,
With sails of beaming white canvas,
Unfurled for the wind to fill,
And to sail around the light,
At night,
Guiding the ships,
Through their plight,
Of the ocean-filled night,
As they fight,
The age-old fight,
Within sight,
Of Cape Agulhaus Light.

Now, IMHO, I think that this needs much more work. So, if anyone out there has any suggestions, feel free. I will give all of them consideration. I will try to post the finished, more updated product. Thanks.

Jake (Stephen)

Stephen, I'm no literary expert, but I like your poem
as it is.
Thank you for sharing this with us.

Debbie

OK, you asked...


On the tip of the land, shining bright
Is a tower made of stone.

With bands of red and bands of white
Guiding ships since times of old.

It marks the way around the Cape.
Guiding captains bold.

Unfurled for the wind to fill,
Are sails of beaming white.

Guiding ships through their plight,
Within the beam Of Cape Agulhaus Light.


robert [2 roads]

Nice thoughts Jake, but a few too many "ights"? I like my poems to rhyme so I jot down significant words and then try to think up words that rhyme with them. If that doesn't work I alter the first ones and try again. Sometimes I'm lucky and the r"ight" words just roll r"ight" out!

Here's one

There was a lightkeeper from Norway
Who use to sit in the doorway,
One day the door slammed shut,
and pinched his b--t.
Now he sits in the hallway.

shouldn't that last line be something like:

"Now he stands on his hands by the shoreway."


Rgds,
The Meter Maid

There was a young man named Fred.
Whose versus could never be read.
When I asked him "Why"
He'd always reply:
"Oh, I don't know I guess it's because I try to squeeze too many words into the last line."

John, the meter maid is going to get you big time for that one!

nah, sainthood means never having to iambic pentameter

Rgds,
Doric Columns

I have another new one. This one has to be the best, in my opinion, by far.

"Lighthouse Chronical"

From the noble cliff,
A light shines its warning,
To sailors of the night.
A work of a mason's hand,
Of a granite miner's,
Of a lumberjack's,
A glass-maker's,
And a brass-worker,
Is the grand light.

The light shines again,
To the sea below,
As the ocean,
The vast ocean,
Crashes on the rock,
And the bitter wind blows.
Then appearing,
From a cozy house,
Is the keeper,
With lantern raised,
Plodding out into the storm,
Facing wind,
Rain,
And spray.
He checks the light,
Making sure it calls,
To all bold sailors,
"Beware me!
For I know,
Of reefs and shoals,
Of the deadly rocks,
Upon which I stand!
Journey on!"
And as canvas starts to mingle,
With salt and spray,
The keeper gives the clockwork,
One more wind,
And back into the bitter wind he goes,
Heading back into the cozy house,
With lantern upheld proudly,
As he realizes,
That he had saved a life tonight.

And that is a night,
At a lighthouse.
A chronical of sailors of yore,
And the keepers who are no more.

An Original By Stephen S.


[This message has been edited by Jake (edited 03-24-99).]

Very good Stephen! I would substitute "Behold me" for "Beware me". Also "And back into the wind he goes" rather than "goes he". Seems too close to your next "cozy".

EXCELLENT Stephen! I agree it's your best I've read so far. I love the image it skillfully crafts on the canvas of my mind.

Keep it up. You're good!

------------------
Keepin' the flame

I agree Stephen, this one is your best so far.
Makes me that much more eager to read more
of your work. Don't keep your fans waiting too long.


Debbie

Hi all, I have come up with yet another poem. I feel like I've done more digging than Digger does just to find this post!

Well, here goes...

"The Pillar of Fire"

The cliff stands tall against the sea,
Which pounds its fists of fury on its rock,
And which pounds on a frail ship,
Struggling to stay afloat,
To see another day,
But the cliff is not safety,
With jagged, Forboding,
Pillars of rock.

The navigator on board that ship,
Strains to see through the spray,
To see any sign of unforgiving rocks,
Reaching into the sea.

Then he sees the flame's light,
Shimmering from above,
Flashing out to sea,
From a pillar of fire,
To all who were on the waters,
Of the world,
That guiding light,
Which brings sailors home.

This is the noble lighthouse,
Its supremacy unchallenged,
Its beauty unmatched,
The guiding pillar of fire,
The guardian of the reefs,
This lighthouse is the triumph,
Small as it may be,
Of man over the sea.

An original by Stephen S.

Please feel free to post any opinions or suggestions. Thanks.

Jakers

Really, really cool Jake! Keep them coming. How 'bout some "underground" poems by Jake Allen Poe?

And I thought you were just goofing off this summer, Jake! Very nice! That Legacy has got to clom onto one of these pretty soon.

Digger, only you can write the underground stuff, God help us!

MOMBO

Good going Jake. I encourage you to keep writing.

Jake, This would be a wonderful poem for HL to include with a lighthouse like Whitefish Point (whenever they make it!)
Donna

Jake
I really like "The Pillar of Fire". I think many of us lighthouse people feel the strength or guidance or safety or whatever it is we feel from lighthouses. The poem tells what that whatever is, great work.
Thanks, take care
QC

Outstanding job Jake, keep them coming. Makes me want to take another trip to see more lights.
Dale

OK. Yet another poem. I had to write this for an assignment at school.

"Legacy of ALexandria"

A light flashes through the night,
Flash! Flash! Flash!
All ships upon the storm tossed sea!
Behold me!
Beware me!
See my guiding light,
And make it safely home!
I call to all of you,
Traversing Neptune's kingdom,
Safe harbor is here!
See me,
Listen to my voice,
For I know where it is safe,
And there is shelter from the storm!
Flash! Flash! Flash!
I am guiding beacon,
From the legacy of Pharos,
From the ancient lineage,
Of guiding men from the sea,
The mission of Alexandria,
Has been transplanted into me.
I shine my light forth,
To all who bear notice,
To continue the legacy of Alexandria,
To guide men in off the sea.
Flash! Flash! Flash!
I call to you,
Oh victims of Neptune's anger,
See my light,
And hear my cries,
For I understand your plight,
And I shall help you in your fight,
As you attempt to conquer the sea,
So as you may see day again,
And sail upon the sea.

Original by: Stephen Sostaric (c)

Thank you for your wonderful poetry. I just wish that I could write poetry. You have a GOD given talent, cherish it and polish it and keep it coming.
I had missed seeing this thread before now and am glad you posted today. Now I know somone else who has the same birthday as I do(Feb 1). Happy 15th Birthday ( a quarter of a year in advance). fohornkeeper

VERY nice Stephen. Thanks for sharing the products of your talent. Keep it coming.

Stephen,

One day I'm going to be able to tell people that "I knew him when....". You are very talented, there are great things ahead of you.

Joanne

Great work Jake. I enjoyed all but the Thomas Point gives me a great view of the light. Keep the images flowing.