Capturing Water

CAPTURING WATER

So many ways to paint 'water',

And so many more I could find.

When you think your thoughts about 'water'

Which vision comes into your mind?

       Joanne Clark

Do you picture yourself calm and peaceful,

By a pond in the cool of the day,

Where the ducks and the lilies are floating

And the dragonflies flutter and play?

                            artbywicks

Do you float in an underground cavern,

Where the water is black, full of threat,

And the walls of the cavern loom closer

And fear makes you shiver and sweat?

                  Nyoman Dewantara

Do you see yourself dreaming at mid-day

By a river paraded with trees

Where the fish dazzle you with their darting

And you're passing the day at your ease?

         Alexis Papageorgiou

Does water inhabit your nightmares?

Does a drowning say 'water' to you?

Do you wrestle with darkness and liquid?

Does you chest feel it's bursting in two?

                       axiom hacker

Or do you imagine a bathtub

That's eased all your trouble and pain?

Do you smile as the water goes gurgling

Off, off and away down the drain?

              Charleston

Or does 'water' mean power and fury

Does it crash? Does it roar? Does it roll?

Does it hurtle intent on destruction

To swallow humanity whole?

                                Silveira

Or does it cascade like a rainbow

Full of beauty to fall from a height

And does it reflect the sun's beaming

And the whiteness of moonlight at night?

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So many ways to paint 'water'

And I've only touched on a few!

So...... when you're considering 'water'

Which vision's the right one for you?

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SHAKE A LEG!

Before the 1840s when the sailors went to sea

They lacked the obvious benefits of female company!

So, when the ship sailed into port every sailor had the right

To ask a lady-friend on board so she could stay the night!

(The sailors slept in hammocks, in a very communal way,

So about that situation there's little I care to say!)

Let's move right on to the morning, when the sailors had their duties

And they weren't allowed to hang-around with their nocturnal beauties.

The boatswain's mate came round to see the state of all the pairing;

Which hammocks held one body, and which others showed signs of sharing!

'Shake a leg!' he'd bellow as he strode between the ranks,

(As you can guess the sailors didn't offer up their thanks!)

Everyone had to show a leg, be it quite smooth or hairy,

A prospect I'd have found to be quite definitely scary.

The Boatswain yelled 'Jump to it, boys! Ain't no man can refuse!'

The 'ladies' were allowed to snuggle down for one more snooze!

So next time you yell 'Shake a leg!' as you quite often do,
Remember that you owe those words to the boys in navy blue!

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