The Fav'ring Gale (Prose)

Standing on the shoreline she stared straight out at the jetty with number 45 painted on one of the rocks. Was this oblong pile a cairn or a talisman? Or perhaps it was an omen of a watery grave?  Above her the fast moving and foreboding skies pushed ashore parallel and equal to the brunt of the black waves at her feet. She was at the crux of a life-changing event. Safety was always on solid ground, but she was the adventurous type and the undercurrent tugged at her toes and pulled her towards the untried and unknown.

She momentarily closed her eyes and let the swell of the sea and its surroundings carry her away. Stands of hair lapped at her face in rhythm with her gauzy white dress as seagulls circled and cried above her. The riggings were tight, the sails were at full mast and when everything was harmonious she could momentarily feel the beacon from the lighthouse pass behind her and like a sailor’s shanty urge her on. “Swiftly blows the fav’ring gale”* it prompted. And yes, she would obey its edict.

©Expressions by Christine 2010

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* From the Sea Shanty "Homeward Bound" by Lesley Nelson-Burns

Our anchor we'll weigh,
And our sails we will set.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well.
The friends we are leaving,
We leave with regret,
Hurrah, my boys, we're homeward bound.

We're homeward bound,
Oh joyful sound!
Goodbye, fare-ye-well,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well.
Come rally the capstan,
And run quick around.
Hurrah, my boys, we're homeward bound.

We're homeward bound
We'd have you know
Goodbye, fare-ye-well,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well.
And over the water
To England must go,
Hurrah, my boys, we're homeward bound.

Heave with a will,
And heave long and strong,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well.
Sing a good chorus
For 'tis a good song.
Hurrah, my boys, we're homeward bound.

Hurrah! that good run
Brought the anchor a-weigh,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well.
She's up to the hawse,
Sing before we belay.
Hurrah, my boys, we're homeward bound.

'We're homeward bound,'
You've heard us say,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well.
Hook on the cat fall then,
And rut her away.
Hurrah, my boys, we're homeward bound.