The Journey
As I stand on the shore
As I look to the sea
As the waves ripple on
With all that I've been
As the break waters swell
With memories and dreams
As the voice of the ocean
Sings them to me
I look back on the voyage
This journey I've made
The laughter
The tears
The parts I have played
The paths intertwining
With so many others
The friends who've become
Sisters and brothers
The family who've grown
To fulfil all my hopes
Though they've climbed highest mountains
And slid on slipperiest slopes
As the sea washes over
And carries me forth
I journey anew
On a now unknown course
I bid farewell
To those I've enlightened
And set out on a voyage
To a distant horizon
Grimsby, where I'm from, was once the largest fishing port in the world. That was quite some time ago and now, though Grimsby fish is still famous around the world, the industry has dwindled immensely.
My (now ex) wife's paternal grandfather was a merchant seaman. Actually, for a good time, so was her maternal one, but we're talking about her father's side right now. He was a strong, proud man and, when cancer took him as it did his wife, my wife asked me to write something for his funeral. This was that piece. As Grimsby's (and Cleethorpe's too) heritage is so much sea based, the Humanist who carried out the ceremony asked if he could use it for other funerals he carried out.
I was honoured, of course. The same man spoke at my mother's funeral earlier this year and mentioned that he's read it many times since. I hope it brought some comfort.
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