A Ship’s Tale: QE2 of the Cunard Line
Here is my attempt at the ‘Fornythislag/Mallahattr’ meter – and I found it difficult to maintain the 4 syllable a line count and often drifted into 5 or 6 in order to keep a sense of meaning. Despite this, AI incorporated some cross-rhymes and alliteration, with the end rhymes being impossible I although I tried!) The verses are concerned with a ship, a cruise liner called the QE2 (Queen Elizabeth the Second), built originally in the 1960’s on Clydesbank in Scotland, with her maiden voyage being the 2nd May 1969 (a real Bealtaine beauty!) She was officially retired in Dubai on November the 26th in 2008 with nearly 40 years of service with the Cunard line. As a praise poem, I focused on three main aspects of the ship’s life: her construction on the Clyde, her participation in the Falklands war as a troop ship (in 1982), and finally her retirement in the Middle East (last destination being Port Rashid). Simple as they may appear these meters require a greater depth of thought and more concentrated word-meanings than anything else I have yet attempted. The best reward are some excellent kennings. This poem was written for the QE2’s tenth year of retirement - and success as a floating hotel.
A sea scop’s tale – by Mungo’s Clyde,
Vast coracle created – ribs well rising,
The prow proudly yawns – dawn’s volt-blue flames,
Venerable Cunard’s name – the keel wide and deep,
With smoky steel spine – a beam hard-set,
Well flared sea-mare – the ship-builders pride,
The ocean bride sighs – in seams fog wrought,
A red molten scheme – a breed iron hones
Skiff shield of welder’s - the plover’s bead dream,
Sailors surf plough – a ship town’s bread,
This tongue of the Gael – a chrism of the Queen,
Thro’ Irish waters – A Southampton berth,
Cross’ trans-Atlantic – New York’s darling,
Neptune’s mistress – long cruise of comforts,
Of nostalgic airs – the Champagne flowing,
Soft swaying kisses – then clouds of distress,
To battle called – the seagulls screaming,
In troops transporting – to Falkland’s sound,
With Britain’s war crew – too bold in conflict,
The ice-cold south – her heart ever true,
Safe homeward bound – the Islands protected,
Dover’s white cliffs – a mother’s saluting,
The streamline Maiden – forty years strong,
Great graceful liner – of dolphin guided,
Swift and noble – richly desired
Thousand and one night – retired in majesty,
The keen of mourners, into Eastern dawn,
A captain navigates – to the Prince of Dubai,
Bid fond farewell – In port Rashid,
Barque of last longing – final end journey,
Shooting stars illumine – sky glow of fireworks,
A desert flower now – in Persia’s gulf.
All Rights Reserved 2018 & Copyright David John Drew ‘Ollamh Draoi’
