Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Newport Bridge

On Sunday I sailed from the largest island in Narragansett Bay, Aquidneck, to the other two large islands in the bay, Prudence and Conanicut. And back. It's always good to come back.

This song kept going through my head. I don't know where it comes from. But I think some of the poetry of the original is missing.


Got out of town on a Laser
Going to Prudence Island.
Sailing a reach
Before a following sea.
She was making for the waves
On the outside,
And the downhill run
To Conanicut.

Off the wind on this heading
Lies North Kingstown.
I got fourteen feet of the waterline.
Nicely making way.
In a noisy bar in Middletown
I tried to call you.
But on a Timex watch I realized
Why twice you ran away.

Think about how many times
I have capsized
Spirits are using me
larger voices calling.
What LaserPerformance Ltd brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten.

I have been around the bay,
Looking for that woman/girl,
Who knows love can endure.
And you know it will.
And you know it will.

When you see the Newport Bridge
For the first time
You understand now
Why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be running from
Is so small.
But it's as big as the promise
The promise of a coming day.

So I'm sailing for tomorrow
My quads are a dying.
And my love is a boom vang tied to you
Tied with a spectra chain.
I have my boat
And all her telltales are a flying
She is all that I have left
And 'Laser 157812' is her name.

Think about how many times
I have capsized
Spirits are using me.
What LaserPerformance Ltd brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten.

I have been around the bay,
Looking for that woman/girl,
Who knows love can endure.
And you know it will.
And you know it will.

So I cheated and I lied
And I pushed the limits of Rule 42
And I never failed to fail
It was the easiest thing to do.
You will survive being bested.
Somebody fine
Will come along
Make me forget about tacking on you
At the Newport Bridge.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eek!
Conanicut/Papeete?
Middletown/Avalon?

Well, at least I've been to Middletown and Conanicut.

Anonymous said...

You don't think North Kingstown sounds as exotic as the Marquesas?

Dean Fulton said...

"And 'Laser 157812' is her name"
Does anybody name their dinghy these days? or is that just not cool anymore? When I was a kid, everybody's Sabot and Lido14 had a name...

Anonymous said...

Sure. Some people name their Lasers. I was thinking of Yer Father's Yacht. (Read Ronnie Wood's autobiography if you don't get that one.)

Or perhaps Don't You Know Who I Am?

EVK4 said...

"Don't You Know Who I Am?"

That is a most excellent laser name.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Edward. I'm torn between thinking
a) it's good
b) nobody will get it
c) one particular guy will get it and he will punch my teeth out.

EVK4 said...

I sure hope it's not c. To make you feel better, that particular guy lives out here I think and shouldn't be within 50 yards of a laser for the next 18 months or so.

Tillerman said...

I believe his restraining order runs out on Dec 31 2008. And there is certainly a possibility our paths may cross at major Laser masters regattas. A quick look at The Google confirms that he and I have raced in the same fleet before.

And the funny thing is... I didn't even know who he was.

Pat said...

At least I've been in a noisy bar in Avalon -- but Two Harbors is less crowded and has some nice sea caves to kayak.

EVK4 said...

An organized wearing of "don't you know who I am?" shirts at a regatta that he is likely to be at would be great. You can even make them like sports jerseys and have the number 69 on everyone's uniform!

Carol Anne said...

I went through the harbor on a boat with no name ...

Mal Kiely [Lancelots Pram] said...

wOOt! I hear a Laser Rock Opera in the offing, perhaps? No no no :P

Cyalayta
Mal :)

Zen said...

Hmmm,

HOw about, " this is my other boat"

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