The Last Farewell

The Last Farewell 

You remember that day so very clearly now.
The dockyard. The jetty: the waiting ship.
The kiss that said “I love you more than you will ever know
And though my heart is breaking, I really do have to go”.
And you recall the hooting of the tugs as the ship pulled away
The weather matching your mood, cloudy and grey.

Though the jetty was crowded you felt so alone.
Alone to think.  Alone to cry.
Alone to ask yourself…..why?
Why did he have to go away again?
Why was parting such sweet sorrow?
Who would be there tomorrow
To wipe away the tears that would fall like summer rain?
Were moments like this; emotional strife
All part of being….a Sailors wife?

As you slowly left the dockyard and made your way home.
A ship slipped out of the harbour into the raging foam.
It’s destination unknown to all but a few…
Yet it meant many months of loneliness for you.
It’s task, to protect the freedom of the seas.
You whispered a silent prayer…”Lord, bring him home safely please”.

When you reached home, though the children were there
The house seemed so empty, so bleak and so bare.
Little Jimmy asks “Where’s Daddy” you reply “He’s gone away”.
Silence, then “why Mummy….didn’t he want to stay”?

Later that night with the children fast asleep
You let your memories flow……and you weep.
As you remember another jetty and another day
How it was the last time that your beloved sailed away.
How you longed each day for a phone call or at least, a letter.
How each loving word made you feel so much better.
Yet, again you asked yourself…”are there many women like me….
Married to a man whose first love is the sea?

Now, this isn’t a tale about a love that died
For now you’ll hear the story from the other side,
That of the sailor far out at sea.
Not so many years ago……..that was me!………

I was a long term sailor that much is true….
And I left behind, someone special, like you……
Yet it wasn’t the roaring waves that drew me to the sea
It was an inbred need to travel that interested me…….

My Dad had been a sailor for over 20 years.
Listening to his stories filled me with ideas.
I wanted to see for myself those far-away places
Meet different people experience different races.

I signed up for nine years and travelled far and wide.
My home each ship I served on….the sea a willing bride.
Gibraltar, Malta, South Africa to….
Australia, America and Japan, to name a few.
Add several visits to the Mediterranean as well.
Each……with an interesting story to tell.

But life at seas did have it’s serious side
In action and accidents several  good friends died
There were endless drills and exercises held in secrecy
Preparing for war or any other eventuality.

After thirteen years I grew tired of the life.
The months and sometimes years away from family and wife.
Too late, I decided to change my course.
My first marriage ended…in divorce .

After four more years I finally called it a day
I wanted to live life but in a very different way.
So one spring day my new life begun.
As for love……yes…..I found someone.

Now, I can promise you that one day
Your loved one will do the same
Your memories will not all belong in a picture frame,
And your children will have a daddy..In more than just a name.
Your lives will become reality – a new meaning to family.
Emptiness and sorrow no more shall  be.
No more loneliness and absent sorrow
No more facing each empty tomorrow.

Then…..you can live your lives together in harmony and peace
Until the sands of time begin to cease.
When all sailors must answer that final ships bell
For that last voyage……to Heaven…..the Last Farewell.