Oh, Captain!

                                                    (Opportunity Lost)

 

The captain looked out, surveying the ship, and knew that the prospects were good.

Very well made, recently launched, and constructed from finest of woods.

Her sails filled the sky with billows of white, shielding their eyes from the sun.

Now put in charge, by selection of crew, this morning would mark his first run.

 

 

The crew was composed of the bravest of men, just what the good ship deserved.

Each knew his role from arduous work on the lesser ships were they’d served.

Now day by day, each in his way, was struggling on with the task

of contributing skill, but curbing the will, that had driven them on in the past.

 

 

The morning was bright as the captain called out, eyeing the good ship and crew.

Each to their own, and working alone, they felt they knew just what to do.

Though muscles were taught as they bent to the task of getting the ship set for sail,

unless they could master working as one, he knew they were destined to fail.

 

 

The others tuned out and cheered at the sight of the big ship now inching to sea.

Good will did flow, or seemed to do so, but they worried what was to be.

Was this thing so good, the men and the wood, that now moved in slow rhythmic dance,

or would they lament them building this ship, while all other souls missed their chance.

 

 

Hours to days and days into weeks, the crew seemed to work as a team.

T’would lessen the strain of leading this crew, if all were indeed as it seemed.

But try as they would to be of one mind, encouraging each to the man,

when cause did arise, it showed in their eyes, that they still were divided in clans.

 

 

The pleasures of testing the troubles of life are not for the timid to know.

The brave and the bold may quake to their soul, but they travel where the others won’t go.

Some call it folly and some call it pride for a man to be sure of his thoughts,

but sure handed action is hard to decry, when action is sought at all costs.

 

 

Oh Captain! was sung and the top of a voice, from a man that was nested on high.

Ahead, way ahead, what’s that ominous cloud that hangs at the edge of the sky?

All eyes were fixed as the Captain peered deep, toward the mist and the cloud looming near.

His vantage was not as the man on the top, but he froze with the deepest of fears.

 

 

The whispers were heard as they drifted around, with none knowing just what to do.

And though were unsure, they knew they’d come far with this man and this ship and this crew.

Some did proclaim that the wind and the rain would be more than the good ship could stand.

While others declared she was solidly made. Confusion reigned to a man.

 

 

The captain unsure of guiding the men to a place where danger did dwell,

requested of each to voice his desire, to proceed, or to lower the sails.

In the back of each mind were the stories they’d heard of the gold and riches on high.

So they argued, and bickered, and cursed as they yelled, with time and the waves rolling by.

 

 

His mind racing round, as he listened to sounds of his men as they tallied their lots.

He’d seen this before, though much closer to shore, and he felt they should give it a shot.

But he looked at the men as the tally came in and it seemed that returning was sound.

So he pushed his own thoughts to the back of his mind, and suggested the ship turn around.

 

 

What should a man as a leader of men do when their paths seem diverged?

Should he go with the vote of his ill prepared charge, or petition and counsel and urge.

A child could sit down and count up the score and report to the men who then wait

A leader should study and learn the best route, then opine to the men on their fate. 

 

 

The men did return to their habits and homes while their work, with its safety, commenced.

Though as they sit in the night near the fire in it’s light, they dream of the riches they’d sensed.

Did they do the right thing? Did others get through? Did the truth measure up to the claim?

Did the Captain recover and get a new charge? The Captain, what was his name?

 

 

Mark Green