The Shipping Forecast

In homage to the waters around the UK and all those who sail them... Late at night and early dawn Like clockwork - every day are heard Those dulcet tones “set fair” to warn With poetic, most prophetic words What lies in wait just off our shores? (Which seem so very far from home) Where lashing rain and winds of force See Salty Seadogs battered; blown By storms... but these will clear; will pass It has been stated; thus foretold Like crystal ball or looking glass To comfort sailors brave and bold For all my life a fascination And still today I find that I’m Anxious with anticipation To learn ‘conditions maritime’ The thought of Thames; of Dover; Wight Of Lundy… I wax lyrical To capture my long-held delight In rhyme (or is that “Dogger”(el)? Enraptured every time I hear Those places of such mystery The pictures in my head are clear Tucked up in bed ... no wish to be In storm force winds in German Bight Or making headway out in Humber Or windswept by a Viking night Whilst they are there… I safely slumber In Faeroes, Forties, Forth, Biscay Perhaps in Shannon, Portland, Hebrides Those bobbing boats will cut their way More safely through unsettled seas In North and South Utsire waves form In Cromarty the seas are rough Will Tyne and Fisher bear a storm? In Trafalgar... is the going tough? Will warnings of a storm wind mean A night of fighting elements? Will calmer Fitzroy set the scene For ships to sail with elegance? Will raging gales in Bailey thwart The hardiest of Naval “Sole” Or will they give it not a second thought? Will South-East Iceland take its toll? Or forewarned, forearmed, such wisdom used May lessen any perils faced Will knowledge gained by Shipping News Make the Irish Sea a safer place? Will Lundy, Fastnet, all the while Take courage, strength and fortitude? Will you face the rigours of Fair Isle? What kind of test will Rockall prove? Will Malin treat you kindly or Be as devilish as it may be? And Plymouth – being close to shore Will that prove to be a sanctuary? Four hundred words (just less) to say That which all sailors need to hear To guide; to set aside; allay Their deepest worries; darkest fears Each time I hear the Shipping Forecast I offer up a silent prayer I listen, transfixed, to the broadcast And think “Stay Safe and Take Good Care; ….May time and tide grant fairer days” And if I had my way, I would Bless all who sail the ocean waves With “South-west; “Three-to-Four”; and “Good”