Dark Dock
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Poetry
•
fog rolls low
over the boat
slowly cloaked
by the ghostly shroud
the lone light
hanging heavy
in the night
from the bow ring
throws its yellowed glow
searching its beam
fractured
‘cross the chop water
probing
for the dark dock
for home
• • •
rob kistner © 2009
“Dark Dock” was inspired by some rich and dear memories of the 1950’s, my younger years, when my adoptive father Bob and I would fish, from daybreak into the night, in the Canadian wilderness. Especially the deep, damp, and foggy early AM hours, coming back through the chill darkness, traversing the rocky narrows that connected the chain of lakes in which we fished.
The journey could be over ten miles through 4 major narrows - depending which species we were fishing. The best northern pike and pickerel lake was called Little Bear Lake, and was the furthermost destination. Bob loved to fish pike.
One of the narrows was a treacherous quarter mile through huge boulders lurking ominously in the clear cold water. We would have to carefully row and pole our way through, with the Coleman lantern’s yellow light to guide us — and me at the bow of the boat with a hand-held Rayovac spotlight probing the depths… although we’d been to these waters every summer, and Bob had a good sense where to be the most cautious — it was still dangerous.
Each season several fishermen would take out the bottom of their wood boats on an unseen rock, and end up wet, cold, and stranded — until another fisherman would discover them (no cell or satellite phones at that time). The Canadian wilderness of the 1950’s was truly wilderness. Bear and wolves lived in the forests, so one did not want to trek for miles through the back country in the pitch of night.
The huge submerged rocks, appearing from out of the darkness like some beast, coming into the penetrating beam of my light were indeed spooky, and gave me a shiver — even after many years of these summer adventures.
We had oars, poles, and a 15HP outboard ‘little blue’ Evinrude to push the big wooden fishing boat along, so the going was slow - but life in general moved at a wonderfully slower, more thoughtful pace then. Making our way, weary and wet, back to our island’s dark log dock was both eerie and thrilling — I loved it!
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 2:50 am
This was so atmospheric. Excellent.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Hi Rob,
Wonderful ‘O’ sounds throughout. Agree with Anthony’s comment. Great that the poem is boat-shaped too!
August 13th, 2009 at 4:50 am
As Tony says, very atmospheric!
your yellow shirt contrasts with the pillar
August 13th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Anthony -
Thank you for the kind words…
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Derrick -
I’m pleased you enjoyed this piece…
Thank you for being keenly observant. I had not realized the boat-like shape, but there it is.
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 6:23 am
gautami -
Nice to have you visit again. I miss you when I’m not linking to my posted work…
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 7:26 am
This was just beautifully done. Until the very end I sensed it was a “ghost ship”.
August 13th, 2009 at 7:27 am
This is one of my favorites of your poems. You build a mood and a picture with so few words. The O’s really work.
August 13th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Cynthia -
Thank you for your warm words…
Who knows, it might just be a small boat of the dead, who perished long ago at sea, doomed to forever row for home…
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Tamara -
You are most kind, thank you…
I’m pleased this poem touched you!
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I think your use of the “o” sound lent a kind of slow feel to it, which added to its mood. Nice and visual. Good write.
August 13th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Thank you Nicole -
I was going for a deep, heavy, slow movement through the thick fog — I’m pleased you felt it…
August 13th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I think that the second stanza - the sounds all come together perfectly to create, for me, the strongest image.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Hi DJ -
Thank you for your kind observation, and for visiting…
The three stanzas of “Dark Dock” each represent a different element of the poem. Stanza 1 is the atmosphere, the environment wherein the poem takes place. Stanza 2 is the boat. Stanza three and the tag line, represent the quest.
Just sharing for anyone caring to know.
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
This is my first visit to your site to read your poem. I liked the subject. It has been a long time since I was out in a boat at night. I remember the cold damp feeling and the yearning to be home. Describing the yellow light as a glow takes the brightness away and makes the poem darker and more lonely. Thank you for posting this descriptive, realistic scene.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
O sooooooooooooo goooooooooooooood rOb
August 13th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
wOw and a great phOtO tOO
August 13th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Linda -
Thank you for visiting…
I’m glad you liked this piece.
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Thank you Wayne…
I appreciate the kind words.
…rob
August 13th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Wayne -
The photo is a collage of three (3) separate photos that I created in PhotoShop. My goal was to visually capture the essence of the poem. Glad you like.
…rob
August 14th, 2009 at 5:01 am
Great connections between sound and sense here.
August 14th, 2009 at 6:25 am
There is a melancholy quality to this poem. I loved the sense of gloom and the feeble resonance that all sailors feel when at sea. Been there done that. This reached into my past and pulled the big fish of memory to the surface.
Regards,
DH
August 14th, 2009 at 6:44 am
Nathan -
Thank you for the gracious words…
I appreciate your visit.
…rob
August 14th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Donald -
I’m glad this piece touched you…
Thank you for visiting…
…rob
August 15th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Great job creating the tone! Love the word “home” at the end!
August 15th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
This is one of those poems that needs to be read many times. I have read it ten times already and I get a new feel each time I go through it. beautiful
August 15th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Hi Linda -
Thank you…
As always, I’m pleased you visited.
…rob
August 15th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Hi Grizz -
You are most gracious, and I am deeply moved that you are so taken with this piece. Thank you for journeying into the layers of this work!
This is the type of poetry I most like to write - atmospheric, poetry noir… trying to go deep into feelings, emotions, with few, but effective words. If only I could go there more often — it’s difficult…
This simple piece evolved over a year’s time, with the most recent inspiration being this RWP prompt. Through probably 30-40 edits and re-writes, I’ve labored over each word — the sound they make when I read them aloud, how they feel in my mouth when spoken, the physical appearance of the composition, even the photo-collage image I created to compliment the verse had to ring true…
In the end, this piece had to stir me no matter how often I read it, or I could not be satisfied — it’s close…
…rob
August 17th, 2009 at 12:27 am
that second stanze had the glow on my face!
Pop Comes the Baby
August 17th, 2009 at 2:26 am
Hi AD -
I can see the radiance from here…
…rob