Had What It Takes
- Sad tale of a man who lost his pride
This is really a song in the old English ballad style. It was
the thought of a man sat behind a pint with a sorry tale to tell
that inspired this one.
He used to be a happy man, worked hard for what he had.
But now he knows he's thrown it all away.
He used to sail with the fishing fleet, at the crack of dawn,
Now he will be lucky to see the day.
Admired by other fishermen, and proud of what he was.
But now alone, he finds he hates himself.
Not the man he used to be, or the one he could be now.
Said goodbye to his self-esteem and health.
Sat behind a half-filled pint, at the bar again.
He thinks a silent thought, and turns to leave.
Sees the men from down the quay, come in for a jar,
And wonders if the sailor will return.
She had been there at his side, whenever their boat returned.
Their happy home, was down there by the bay,
But fate dealt him a losing hand, when he was out at sea.
Sudden sickness, it came, took her away.
The fishermen had talked to him, made welcome in their homes,
But nothing they could do would comfort him.
Found he could escape a while, at the bottom of a glass,
And now he's in so far he can't be found.
Sat behind a half-filled pint, at the bar again.
He thinks a silent thought, and turns to leave.
Sees the men from down the quay, come in for a jar,
And wonders if the sailor will return.
... wonders if the sailor will return.
Category: "Stories"
Written by Keith Lambell, August 30th 2001
Poem viewed 205 times since March 2002.