Simon Martin Posted November 26, 2008 #26 Share Posted November 26, 2008 I must go down to the sea again To the lonely sea and the sky But all I have is a palm tree view In the dust of hot Dubai And the huge glass towers And the boulevard cars And dollars twinkling bright As tourists throng the golden mall In their duty free delight * I must go back to the sea again To the world I've travelled wide A billion fans all cheering me And crews from each far tide A national treasure will proudly move No time to stand still long For the lure of future voyages calls And speed is still my song * I must get back to the sea right now But I fear I'm not quite well My funnel sits on the hot quayside And inside I'm an empty shell Somehow I've lost my sound and soul And the shadows fill my head While all the evening desert sky Steals my funnel's empire red With apologies to John Masefield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilius Posted November 26, 2008 #27 Share Posted November 26, 2008 I must go down to the sea againTo the lonely sea and the sky But all I have is a palm tree view In the dust of hot Dubai... With apologies to John Masefield Simon, thanks for that. My curiosity got the better of me and I looked up some of John Masefield's poetry. If anyone has a trace of sea-salt in their veins, I think they'd enjoy Masefield's works. (Some of them are here ) Being a lover of the sea himself, I think Masefield would have approved of your poem :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserbryce Posted November 27, 2008 #28 Share Posted November 27, 2008 some great works...never knew there were so many things like this out there. Unfortunatly we didnt get to sail on her...but were happy to see her leave LA for the last time this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted November 27, 2008 #29 Share Posted November 27, 2008 When I was on the April TA, I looked up a likely quote in Bartlett's to put in the comment book. I found two from Walt Whitman, which I thought were appropriate: "But O the ship, the immortal ship..." "...Our life is closed, our life begins, the long, long anchorage". Good bye, QE2. I will miss you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seachase20 Posted November 28, 2008 #30 Share Posted November 28, 2008 When I was on the April TA, I looked up a likely quote in Bartlett's to put in the comment book. I found two from Walt Whitman, which I thought were appropriate: "But O the ship, the immortal ship..." "...Our life is closed, our life begins, the long, long anchorage". Good bye, QE2. I will miss you. Poignant words, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruachan Posted December 21, 2008 #31 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Ok, here I am, late to the party as usual - very late in this case. When I started writing this poem, it was not my intention that it should have any connection at all with Cunard. However, for some reason a certain ship managed to insinuate itself into the process and make a cameo appearance write at the end. There are some explanatory notes below the image for anyone who is interested. J Notes: 1. For those not familiar with the geography of the east coast of England, “Spurn” refers to Spurn Point, the long sand spit that defines the northern side of the mouth of the Humber Estuary. 2. There really was a trawler named Arctic Corsair (in fact there were at least two and they both still exist). The one I had in mind in writing this was the beam trawler that is now preserved as a museum ship on the River Hull. She was built in 1960 by the Beverley shipbuilders Cooke, Welton and Gemmell for Boyd Line, a major trawler owner in Hull. In 1973 she broke the world record for landing cod and haddock from the White Sea. She frequently fished the Icelandic grounds and, during the Cod War, was rammed by an Icelandic gunboat. She was finally retired in 1987. Her actual crew averaged 23, but that didn’t scan, so I invoked poetic licence and made it 27. 3. Her Majesty’s Transport Empire Orwell did exist but I have no idea whether, in her career as a troopship, she ever went within a thousand miles of Singapore. The war I was thinking of here was not World War 2 but rather the Malayan Emergency. 4. I’m pretty sure there never was a British collier called Jarrow Trader, but the name seemed entirely appropriate. There were many called Empire ???? but that would have clashed with the name of the troopship, so I just invented a name. 5. As far as I am able to determine no barque (or other sailing ship) ever carried the name “Flying Spindrift”. There is a modern tug of that name, but that’s not really relevant. 6. I am well aware that, as long as QM2 is with us, QE2 was not, in reality, the last transatlantic liner. However, I felt the last verse was entirely appropriate as she was the final flourish of traditional Clydeside ship building, and marked the passing of an era that we will not see again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PM Posted December 22, 2008 Author #32 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Ok, here I am, late to the party as usual - very late in this case. When I started writing this poem, it was not my intention that it should have any connection at all with Cunard. However, for some reason a certain ship managed to insinuate itself into the process and make a cameo appearance write at the end. There are some explanatory notes below the image for anyone who is interested. J Notes: 1. For those not familiar with the geography of the east coast of England, “Spurn” refers to Spurn Point, the long sand spit that defines the northern side of the mouth of the Humber Estuary. 2. There really was a trawler named Arctic Corsair (in fact there were at least two and they both still exist). The one I had in mind in writing this was the beam trawler that is now preserved as a museum ship on the River Hull. She was built in 1960 by the Beverley shipbuilders Cooke, Welton and Gemmell for Boyd Line, a major trawler owner in Hull. In 1973 she broke the world record for landing cod and haddock from the White Sea. She frequently fished the Icelandic grounds and, during the Cod War, was rammed by an Icelandic gunboat. She was finally retired in 1987. Her actual crew averaged 23, but that didn’t scan, so I invoked poetic licence and made it 27. 3. Her Majesty’s Transport Empire Orwell did exist but I have no idea whether, in her career as a troopship, she ever went within a thousand miles of Singapore. The war I was thinking of here was not World War 2 but rather the Malayan Emergency. 4. I’m pretty sure there never was a British collier called Jarrow Trader, but the name seemed entirely appropriate. There were many called Empire ???? but that would have clashed with the name of the troopship, so I just invented a name. 5. As far as I am able to determine no barque (or other sailing ship) ever carried the name “Flying Spindrift”. There is a modern tug of that name, but that’s not really relevant. 6. I am well aware that, as long as QM2 is with us, QE2 was not, in reality, the last transatlantic liner. However, I felt the last verse was entirely appropriate as she was the final flourish of traditional Clydeside ship building, and marked the passing of an era that we will not see again. This poem by Jimmy Christie is quite remarkable. It gives us a glimpse into a potpourri of seafaring vessels as we listen to their acknowledgements to one another as they pass, finally ending with the poignant last message of the iconic ocean liner, the QE2. Great stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser765 Posted December 22, 2008 #33 Share Posted December 22, 2008 J, Simply wonderful. Magical. Thank You Jackie :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted December 22, 2008 #34 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Jim: So sad! So good! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander0108 Posted December 28, 2008 #35 Share Posted December 28, 2008 The wonderful QE2 Librarian Carmel Rogers has written a fitting tribute to the QE2. I found this after reading it on the www.wearecunard.com site. http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71lo-56xpck KenM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilius Posted December 28, 2008 #36 Share Posted December 28, 2008 The wonderful QE2 Librarian Carmel Rogers has written a fitting tribute to the QE2. I found this after reading it on the www.wearecunard.com site. http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71lo-56xpck KenM Ken I think there's an error in your link. This one seems to work though: Regards Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander0108 Posted December 28, 2008 #37 Share Posted December 28, 2008 Ken I think there's an error in your link. This one seems to work though: Regards Neil Thanks for the correction Neil. I would like to add that Carmel is one of the many reasons that made QE2 so special. She took quite a bit of time helping my son find a suitable book to read while onboard our last trip. We also met our waitress from Caronia from our previous cruise and she remembered us and asked how our table mates were doing. Captain McNaught also talked at length to my son on the pier in Newcastle, which was the highlight of the cruise for him. We had a very hard time leaving the ship in Southampton for the final time. KenM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAL72 Posted December 28, 2008 #38 Share Posted December 28, 2008 Good Work Carmel, great video, thanks :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollihedge Posted December 29, 2008 #39 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Excellent poems - thanks very much for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise_Princess Posted January 5, 2009 #40 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Hello....So many wonderful tributes and poems for such a wonderful ship...she is almost a real person to us all..I wonder what she would be saying now.... So here is another poem.... QE2 If I could have my say........ Life begins at forty so I have been told But it seems my Cunard owners now think that I'm too oldI thought I'd get a makeover a little nip'n'tuckAs you see I didn't get it --no such bloomin luck I was born in Scotland on the bonnie banks O'Clyde When I went down that slipway how my heart filled up with prideI only had one funnel I looked a wee bit oddbut then you must remember I was a swinging 60's mod My cruising days are over no more atlantic run No more cocktail parties O the laughter and the funI've sailed around the world now 6 million miles or soBut now at 41yrs old I'm told I have to go. I loved the north atlantic when I was sailing fast No other ship could beat me they were always lastI've got to take retirement I'm sailing to the sunNobody thought to tell me my sailing days were done My house was in Southampton a berth down by the Solent Where my every departure was a very special momentNow it's time to say goodbye you can't know how I feelI've to go to endless sunshine where my skin will burn and peel I sailed into Dubai today -the Sultan's yacht was here But now they've left me all alone and my heart is filled with fearMy engines now lie silent the command from Captain Macbut I know he really wanted to turn round and take me back I've now got brand new Owners I think they're called Nakheel But they don't speak my language so they don't know how I feelIf they would only ask what I'm thinking if I could only have my sayIt would be to sail out on the Ocean just for one more day They say I'm going to dry dock for a year or two Are they going to hurt me O what are they going to doHave you seen the papers there's been a bit of troubleI heard a rumour yesterday ...they're cutting off my funnel!! Now I am so far away on this foreign eastern shore I want to go back home now but they don't want me any moreI want to live FOREVER to sail the ocean blueSo we can be together such is my love for you So will you come and see me on this Palm where I can dream And will YOU always remember that I was once a Queen Southampton gets my anchor they all want to have a part But what's for Bonnie Scotland...to my home I leave my heart Copyright (GAU ) December 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted January 5, 2009 #41 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Thank you, Cruise Princess, that's great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PM Posted January 6, 2009 Author #42 Share Posted January 6, 2009 What a wonderful poem! It brings the QE2 alive. And it is so very,very sad! Thank you so much, Cruise Princess! Gail:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollihedge Posted January 8, 2009 #43 Share Posted January 8, 2009 What a beautiful and poignant poem Cruise Princess :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDM99 Posted January 10, 2009 #44 Share Posted January 10, 2009 No " poem " from me ( my English is to bad ) ! But just my little contribution from my first & last cruise onboard QE2 . In this section of my blog ( QE2 " Aurevoir " 22 - 27 Aout 2008 ) i have just finish today , to send my last photo of this " little " cruise from : 22 - 27 August 2008 Just : 675 Photos :eek: http://tdm99.skyrock.com/101.html " AUREVOIR QE2 " ... Friendly Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise_Princess Posted January 10, 2009 #45 Share Posted January 10, 2009 What a lovely tribute to another wonderful liner.. how beautiful she looked on the Ocean,...so elegant just like Qe2. I also sailed on that 2001 transatlantic in 2001...there wasnt much to remind us of her heydey as NCL didnt really respect that part of her life in my opinion anyway...and what a sad end...those pictures from India brought tears to my eyes....far better if she had been buried at sea. Enjoyed looking at the photos of the trip though.. I am so glad that we could have been part of those ships..:)..so different from those lego sections they call ships today,:( thankyou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PM Posted November 11, 2009 Author #46 Share Posted November 11, 2009 It has already been a year, so perhaps it is time to revisit the wonderful selection of poems written by Cruise Critic's talented writers about the beautiful QE2, lest we don't forget. If there are any other poems that someone would like to add, please feel free to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCurry Posted November 11, 2009 #47 Share Posted November 11, 2009 What a lovely tribute to another wonderful liner.. how beautiful she looked on the Ocean,...so elegant just like Qe2.I also sailed on that 2001 transatlantic in 2001...there wasnt much to remind us of her heydey as NCL didnt really respect that part of her life in my opinion anyway...and what a sad end...those pictures from India brought tears to my eyes....far better if she had been buried at sea. Enjoyed looking at the photos of the trip though.. I am so glad that we could have been part of those ships..:)..so different from those lego sections they call ships today,:( thankyou. NCL doesn't respect a lot of other things either, including their passengers! I'm truly amazed that this wonderful poem by Tennyson never made it in here or should I have used the term well known? Crossing the Bar Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise_Princess Posted November 15, 2009 #48 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Here is a follow up poem to the one I did last year after got to Dubai...i hope you enjoy it,... QE2 One Year On I sit here and I wonder what's going to happen to meIts been about a year now where am I supposed to be?I left with such a fanfare there were fireworks, bands and tearsI was so sad to leave my home as its been over 40 yearsThey sailed me to this foreign land so hot and dry you knowI didn't want to come here I didn't want to goBut now I sit here all alone ,no one comes to visit meI used to be so busy but I think they've lost my key They took me into dry dock and cleaned up all my paintBut I perspire so much out here I really feel quite faintAs a lady of a certain age its not where I want to beIf only someone told me I could have had HRTI'd maybe feel a wee bit better but I know it'd be no useCause out here in the desert..I don't use up much juiceId' rather sail out on the Ocean where my heart and soul is freeFor me to be a hotel .....well ..it isn't really me Someone mentioned Capetown I quite liked it thereBut only cause I knew that soon I'd be sailing off somewhereEverybody loved me when I called in to a portBut now I sit here all day long with nothing to report.I see the other cruise ships they call in just at my sternBut just a few hours later they all sail off againI watch them in the distance until they disappearI never sail to anywhere I just stay right here Some are my relations some are merely friendsSome I've known for ages from way back whenSome are even older than I am sitting hereYet they are all still sailing and I'm left at the pierI watch the lovely sunset from this Dubai placeBut I'd rather be on the high seas now that was really AceI cannot go anywhere they will no let me goMy heart is really breaking though I don't want it to show They speak a funny language they think I don't careBut its an awful feeling not to be going anywhereEverybody loved me why did they send me hereI cry myself to sleep at night but no-one hears my prayerI call out on my whistle oh please please take me backTo my homeland that's so far away I think I've lost the knackThey fiddle with my engines they look me up and downBut to be quite honest I feel I'm going to drown Is anybody listening can you hear my plea?Nobody wants me , and I just want to go to seaI really want my Captain and my good old crowd of crewSo I can sail away back home again with only me and and youThey don't know what to do with me I think I'll fall apartCause there's nobody out here can fix my broken heartOh will somebody save me....I am the QE2Maybe that someone could just in fact be YOU?Copyright Duly Noted 13 Nov 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperrn Posted November 15, 2009 #49 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Here is a follow up poem to the one I did last year after got to Dubai...i hope you enjoy it,... QE2 One Year On I sit here and I wonder what's going to happen to me Its been about a year now where am I supposed to be?I left with such a fanfare there were fireworks, bands and tearsI was so sad to leave my home as its been over 40 yearsThey sailed me to this foreign land so hot and dry you knowI didn't want to come here I didn't want to goBut now I sit here all alone ,no one comes to visit meI used to be so busy but I think they've lost my key They took me into dry dock and cleaned up all my paint But I perspire so much out here I really feel quite faintAs a lady of a certain age its not where I want to beIf only someone told me I could have had HRTI'd maybe feel a wee bit better but I know it'd be no useCause out here in the desert..I don't use up much juiceId' rather sail out on the Ocean where my heart and soul is freeFor me to be a hotel .....well ..it isn't really me Someone mentioned Capetown I quite liked it there But only cause I knew that soon I'd be sailing off somewhereEverybody loved me when I called in to a portBut now I sit here all day long with nothing to report.I see the other cruise ships they call in just at my sternBut just a few hours later they all sail off againI watch them in the distance until they disappearI never sail to anywhere I just stay right here Some are my relations some are merely friends Some I've known for ages from way back whenSome are even older than I am sitting hereYet they are all still sailing and I'm left at the pierI watch the lovely sunset from this Dubai placeBut I'd rather be on the high seas now that was really AceI cannot go anywhere they will no let me goMy heart is really breaking though I don't want it to show They speak a funny language they think I don't care But its an awful feeling not to be going anywhereEverybody loved me why did they send me hereI cry myself to sleep at night but no-one hears my prayerI call out on my whistle oh please please take me backTo my homeland that's so far away I think I've lost the knackThey fiddle with my engines they look me up and downBut to be quite honest I feel I'm going to drown Is anybody listening can you hear my plea? Nobody wants me , and I just want to go to seaI really want my Captain and my good old crowd of crewSo I can sail away back home again with only me and and youThey don't know what to do with me I think I'll fall apartCause there's nobody out here can fix my broken heartOh will somebody save me....I am the QE2Maybe that someone could just in fact be YOU? Copyright Duly Noted 13 Nov 2009 Perfection, Thank you. I've nothing else to add... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PM Posted November 15, 2009 Author #50 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Here is a follow up poem to the one I did last year after got to Dubai...i hope you enjoy it,... QE2 One Year On I sit here and I wonder what's going to happen to me Its been about a year now where am I supposed to be?I left with such a fanfare there were fireworks, bands and tearsI was so sad to leave my home as its been over 40 yearsThey sailed me to this foreign land so hot and dry you knowI didn't want to come here I didn't want to goBut now I sit here all alone ,no one comes to visit meI used to be so busy but I think they've lost my key They took me into dry dock and cleaned up all my paint But I perspire so much out here I really feel quite faintAs a lady of a certain age its not where I want to beIf only someone told me I could have had HRTI'd maybe feel a wee bit better but I know it'd be no useCause out here in the desert..I don't use up much juiceId' rather sail out on the Ocean where my heart and soul is freeFor me to be a hotel .....well ..it isn't really me Someone mentioned Capetown I quite liked it there But only cause I knew that soon I'd be sailing off somewhereEverybody loved me when I called in to a portBut now I sit here all day long with nothing to report.I see the other cruise ships they call in just at my sternBut just a few hours later they all sail off againI watch them in the distance until they disappearI never sail to anywhere I just stay right here Some are my relations some are merely friends Some I've known for ages from way back whenSome are even older than I am sitting hereYet they are all still sailing and I'm left at the pierI watch the lovely sunset from this Dubai placeBut I'd rather be on the high seas now that was really AceI cannot go anywhere they will no let me goMy heart is really breaking though I don't want it to show They speak a funny language they think I don't care But its an awful feeling not to be going anywhereEverybody loved me why did they send me hereI cry myself to sleep at night but no-one hears my prayerI call out on my whistle oh please please take me backTo my homeland that's so far away I think I've lost the knackThey fiddle with my engines they look me up and downBut to be quite honest I feel I'm going to drown Is anybody listening can you hear my plea? Nobody wants me , and I just want to go to seaI really want my Captain and my good old crowd of crewSo I can sail away back home again with only me and and youThey don't know what to do with me I think I'll fall apartCause there's nobody out here can fix my broken heartOh will somebody save me....I am the QE2Maybe that someone could just in fact be YOU? Copyright Duly Noted 13 Nov 2009 How very moving and lovely! I hope someone reads this poem and is so moved that the QE2 is indeed saved. It could happen, I am confident, just as "Old Ironsides" was saved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.