Sun and Moon

Followed some of the ‘kids’ out to the bow of the ship for a sunset view. I’m not a very good photographer but the photos of the sun going down were pretty darn cool, I thought. Must be the camera…

 Then had another Idea: I went aft on Deck 8 and waited for the moon and the Southern Cross. I’ve been fascinated by the Southern Cross since I understood the words to the Crosby, Stills & Nash song of the same name. I’ve always felt that it was one of the few perfect songs ever. Once I really understood all of the words I looked up the Southern Cross. It is a constellation that can only be seen in the southern hemisphere and has been a guide for sailors for untold years. I didn’t really ever expect to go to Africa just to see it, but when I started planning this trip, I knew this was my chance. I had no idea what to expect and I didn’t seen anything by the moon for some time. Again, I was surprised at how well some of the photos came across.

I was wrapped up in taking these when, all of the sudden I looked up and there it was. It was huge! I tried to photograph it was those did not come out. I was amazing and I couldn’t stop staring at it, directly above me, as if it were going to land on the ship. I’ve visited it every night since then and will probably continue to do so until I can’t see it any more. One of these nights I will go up to the pool deck, lie on one of the deck lounge chairs (since it’s difficult to keep looking straight up for a long time) and try to sketch it as correctly as possible.

Got out of town on a boat to the Southern islands

Sailing a reach before a following sea.

She was making for the trades on the outside

And the downhill run to Papeete.

Off the wind on this heading lie the Marquesas.

We got eighty feet of the waterline nicely making way.

In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you,

But on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away.

I think about how many times I have fallen.

Spirits are using me, larger voices calling.

What Heaven brought you and be cannot be forgotten.

I have been around the world looking for that woman girl,

Who knows love can endure – and you know it will.

When you see the Southern Cross 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 dreams are dying.

And my love is an anchor tied to you, tied with a silver chain.

I have my ship and all her flags are flying;

She is all that I have left and music is her name.

So we cheated and we lied and we tested,

And we never failed to fail – it was the easiest thing to do.

You will survive being bested;

Somebody fine will come along and make me forget about loving you at the Southern Cross.