Story of a Seaman

Here in this picture --- one of his poems , me with Mr. Gates and bottom right him as a young dapper seaman. — at River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Dapdune Wharf, Godalming

Story of a Seaman (11th May 2015)

There are people whom you come across who remain unforgettable for the stories they’re attached to. While strolling around the Dapdune Wharf and the museums, I came across this gentleman at the Gunpowder exhibit room. It was a delight to meet this 83 year young dapper ex-seaman Mr.James Gates and listen to his seafares and stories. As a lover of stories- big and small,the nostalgic -me was all ears to this story of a seaman. When hubby quipped that I’m an old-time buff , he was more than happy to share the album which had snapshots and a fascinating selection of tales and excerpts of his nautical sojourns as a young seaman; of what it takes to be a seaman - to be away from a newly wedded (one-day old) wife for 18 months, the stark secluded journeys, the distant infinite horizons of sea, captures of waking up to the beautiful splendid sunrise, the longings, the loneliness , the dreams.

It was heart-warming to see the different version of poems written on the same subject - a Seagull by Mr. Gates and his wife. While he attributed his verses to the independence of being a free bird himself and soaring the skies, his wife seeked pride in her brave blue-eyed saliorman husband noting her sacrifice as negligible, for if he were bound to the mundane life of land, he would have never been of what she’s proud of.

As Mr. Gates aptly put it on his album —
Without the Sea there would be no ships,
Without ships there would be no seaman,
Without seaman there would be no England.