Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BETTER SHIP - PANAMA by GLENN WARD DRESBACH

First Line: JUAN HAS A NEW SHIP
Last Line: "WAS BETTER FOR ME! . . ."
Subject(s): SHIPS & SHIPPING;
Juan has a new ship
With sails like the wings
Of a swan spread at dawn
When the jungle sings
A sleepy wild song.
And the sails are strong
And the prow is high
To go out on voyages
That end in the sky.

Juan had an old ship
That was not as good
As he'd wish for the sea.
There were worms in the wood,
And holes in the sail,
And he went where he could
In slimy lagoons
Set back from the gales,
And in the yellow-fanged rivers
Where crocodiles' tails
Flapped down as he came.
And he longed for blue trails
Of the sun-crested sea,
Bound out for the islands
Where no one could blame
The trade there would be.

Juan has a new ship
And men of the town
Have wondered he built it
And women put down
Their washing awhile
By the slow-talking stream
And look with wide eyes

As if at a dream.
Juan's wife is with them
And she looks, and is sad.
She sighs to herself,
She said, "I'll stay.
Only -- Juan will be away,
Much of the time."
And tears in her eyes
Made her look away
Against the skies
Where the little bay
Swept to the sea.
"Only -- Juan will be away!
The ship that he had
Was better for me! . . ."



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