Here we are in the tidy, polished space that is the captain’s day cabin
And here he is the Captain all stiff-white shirt black tie, braid epaulets
And this, his First Officer taller, slimmer expressionless
And here’s Danny, the union man from Northern Ireland, heavy set tidied up for this occasion
See the eight crew shyly shuffling in, lining up unused to such static situations
Silence like the pause after an Amen Captain about to speak
Even a laughing gull wheels by the window straight-faced
Merchant Navy Code of Conduct disciplinary breach hearing begins
misconduct absence at the time of sailing wages deducted
Outside late August
The crew file off
Except the tallest, young, blue-eyed one
He’s been asked to stay More silence until the cabin door closes
The first officer, less formal now Christopher, it’s my duty to report that your father died this morning
We see the young man fold at the knees caught held up under the arms helped to the door
This is where the story really begins
~
n.b. NaPoWriMo 2022 Day Fourteen Prompt: The opening scene to a film about your life.
CLP 14/04/2022
Journey of Words 
31 responses to “The Quay”
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I had the same dilemma – if a movie were made of my life, where would it begin. Your opening scene is pivotal and would definitely captivate the audience.
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I really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. A tough prompt!
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Great prompt – intriguing scene 👍🖤
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Dastardly prompt imo! 😊
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Haha! You did brilliantly with it! 👍🖤
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Congratulations! That is quite an opening scene!
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Thank you.
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You are welcome.
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Poignancy with a punchline.
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Thank you for reading and your comment, Graham.
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Indeed 👍🖤
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Rereading now that you’ve been featured – even better the second time. I’m noticing how you shifted the stanza structure after the devastating turn. And love the straight-faced gull. Congrats!
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Thank you, Alana. I’m pleased it bore up to a re-reading! I wasn’t sure about the stanza length change at first, but felt it needed it to expand on the moment and provide the detail. Thanks again.
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Chris!
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Liz!
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Wow! Wow!
Congratulations.
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Thank you, Arti. 🙏
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Congrats on being recognized by NaPoWriMo.net for this poem. I’ve always loved your writing!
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Hi Ben, Thank you. I hope all is well with you. I am hoping to visit the USA this summer. Let me know if there is a poetry event near you in August, please!
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Will do. Do you know where in the US you will be?
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I am going to do a bit of New England then wander down to west coast of Florida, with some diversions en route.
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That was cinematic. Hurrah for the feature. If there must be death, better to start with it.
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Manja, that’s a very good idea worthy of extensive discussion! Thank you for your continuing encouragement.
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Amazing. Congratulations on being featured!
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Thank you, Donna. It’s good enough to know people are reading and enjoying my poems, but it is an honour to be selected during April!
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What a wonderful first scene! I’m hooked–I want to know what happened next.
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Andrea, Thank you for letting me know! What happens next depends on whether the film runs chronologically, or not. There is a poem, about what happened immediately preceding the disciplinary hearing.
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Oh Chris, this is heartbreaking… Incredibly moving opening scene. Congratulations on being featured–well-deserved!
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Thank you, Romana. On prompt, I think. I read it out on Friday evening at an open mic event…managed to finish it in one piece. 😊
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That’s wonderful–congrats, Chris!💜🙌🍃
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🙌