Welcome to Poetic Thursday, where we have a chance to share poetry with Pam and her ginger kitties at Two Spoiled Cats.
This is the photo we were given for our inspiration this week:
And here is my poem:
The Old Tar
Wrinkled by the sun and weathered by the wind;
life has taught him that neither’s his friend.
But the years on the sea have made him wise,
and the lessons are reflections in his eyes.
Sea serpents and mermaids: he’s never seen either.
Such things are no matter; he’s not a believer.
He smiles at the sunrise and sighs when it sets,
and lives his best life without regrets.
The sea’s where he learned to cuss and to pray,
to say what you mean and mean what you say.
He’ll sing you a shanty and pour you a rum,
and know your secret before morning comes.
But you won’t learn his, you can try your best;
that’s something the old tar holds close to his chest.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
That’s a perfect poem for this painting. I’m reading some marvelous poems for this photo today and I thought it might be a winner. Next week’s is “suitably mysterious” and will be interesting too!
Pam
A wonderful poem for an amazing portrait. You’ve captured him.
You can see in his eyes that he has a secret, but you can’t read what it is. I like how you kept this sailor ‘grounded’ in the sea – his concerns are above myth and fantasy …
Well done!! It suited picture of crusty sailor to perfection!!
The perfect poem for the picture. Bravo!!!
So good, Dianna! Would love to sit and listen to that old tar’s tales and sea shanty. I’ll forgo the rum though. 😉