A Cage To Hold My Dreams
Elegy
(On the death of solo round-the-world yachtsman
Sir Francis Chichester in 1972)
The eyes have closed on that thoughtful, weathered face,
his famous caps hang idle in the hall
The old seadog has gone to take his place
at the starting line of the greatest voyage of all.
His daring exploits held the world agasp,
he conquered worlds men half his age would fear
His targets far outreached man's puny grasp,
he charted courses no-one else would steer.
The ocean was his playground, and the sky
was one more realm to capture and enslave
There were no dangers he would not defy,
no limit to the pride of heart he gave.
We mourn this man of steel for we are frail
and through his strength we know our frailty
Majestic peace becalms his billowing sail
He's gone to conquer God's eternal sea.
