RHYME OF THE TRADWIND SAILOR

[The Shadow Knows]

I met a lovely woman in 1984. Her dad was a world sailor & owning
my first sailboat, we became close friends & remain thus to this day.
Some of you Old Salts may in-fact, know him. His name is Hank Olysten
& he is an One-amazing guy with decades of Transocean crossings.

I was going thru my boat folders & came across a poem he had written in the ‘70’s I believe, that I feel is worth posting. I called him yesterday to first get his permission & he said, “Sure” so here it is.

He also wrote a short story of a Pacific crossing titled, “The Voyage of Palmalia” & taught a course & me in Sextant Sight Reduction. Kathy & I also remain good friends.

Anywho, Here is the poem he wrote before the advent of the digital age. I hope you salts enjoy reading this from a lifelong live aboard; someone that has been there & done that……….over & over again.

 

[justsomeguy]

Then there's "It's easy to grin when your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat" by the Honorable Judge Smaels.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Thanks for that, Shadow. I know you know what lurks in the hearts of men but, that poem described what I had dreamed of as a kid wanting to live a sailing life. Knowing it was written at the same time I was living aboard with my family on the Gulf coast makes it very nostalgic for me.
Is Hank living the retirement he imagined when he wrote that poem?
- Will (Dragonfly)