A poem about Rowing

   

Sea Rowing along the cost of Wales in done in Celtic longboats throughout the summer, this poem was done on request for an artist to illustrate her work and sum up the emotions of sea rowing races.

If you live in Swansea and fancy giving it a try visit the Mumbles Amateur Rowing Club http://www.mumblesrowing.co.uk/

 

Three Times Merrily

 

I went to the rowing club to try out for Cox

The first time I went I just had to watch

The sea was to rough for a novice they said

 I sat in the bow and the waves wet my head

 

The crew had big arms and mine are quite small

But that did not matter not one bit at all

They said come again when there's blue in the sky

When the sea is flat calm come out and try

 

So I did in the sun we rowed round the bay

Boat steered by me pulling ropes all the way

Wearing full make up and black ski hat on

Encouraging them "faster" and singing them songs

 

We made a match then and created a team

Mumbles Sea Rowing all eager and keen

Adrenalin Mike and caring calm Chris

Teresa “let's all be happy, that is my wish”

After some practice but not very much

We went for a race to put me in touch

With coxing a team of competitive blokes

Four men in a boat one of them stroke

I try to stay calm but was as nervous as hell

Checking the currents the height of the swell

Out to the start line to jostle for placing

Before I was ready the boats started racing

 

I went round the first buoy and made a mistake

Misjudging the speed and the skill that it takes

In to the back of the slow boat in front

The bow of our vessel bearing the brunt

 

We wanted to win my language was blue

I ran out of polite words and  beasted the crew

Out of my mouth the lashings whipped out.

"Row you f***ers" was all I could shout

 

Nearly all in and my head in a whirl

"Come on now we can beat the Black Pearl"

"Row Mumbles Men pick up some speed"

The oars cut the waves with rhythm and ease

 

Our shoreline support team came in to view

Cheering and filming as the finish horn blew

Four big biceped men all rowing in time

The view from my seat was truly sublime

 

Sue Kent 3/10/20122

    www.welshsearowing.org.uk     

To see the artists work visit  http://www.valerieprice-westceramics.co.uk/ceramic-sculptures/rowing-series