Gotham: The First Domino Ship cast asea, its belly full Coal gone, no more steam Itched and brittle with scurvy Noxious fog, lost instruments Sails hoisted, yet no wind Mates and passengers alike On our knees, we cough and pray, Facing mid-Atlantic gruesome end, To end albatross, millstone 'round Our sickly necks; orange, stenched Corpse, raucous croak of certain death, It rots above us in the crow's nest. Then comes distant thunder rumbles; Far Gotham of East (West.) Its temple Raised with many hands, Hope in its Domino-shaped stele; its lightning Alchemizes foul fog to fair clouds, Forms water spouts carrying fish, Fruit, and fresh water to famished. Screeching zombie gull lifted up, Away, downward, beneath waves, Silent now. A-move with gales & cheers, Our bellies and hearts full, resolute: Land, embark, build more dominos.
I am today’s host for dVerse’ Tuesday Poetics. The prompt is to write a poem using weather.
Tao-Talk 
There is nothing worse at sea than no wind… love the way they were saved by that storm… (talk about being dependent on weather)
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Indeed, out of coal and out of wind is a bad situation at sea. I’m glad prayers were answered.
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A wonderful piece. Also, I really enjoyed watching the video; I like how the dominoes fell from the start to the end 👍
Thank you so much for sharing this awesomeness, Lisa! That made me smile ☺️
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Aptivi, thank you very much and glad you enjoyed it :)
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You’re most welcome, Lisa ☺️
I hope you’re having a wonderful day today.
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Love this. Very nautical. I’m posting something on a similar topic tomorrow
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Thanks, Steve! Will be looking for yours tomorrow.
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My mistake. Not tomorrow. The next day
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A lovely poem Lisa ❤️
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Maggie, thank you very much.
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Such a beautiful poem, Li. Love the video❣️
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Cindy, thanks very much. I love that video also!
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Nice one, Lisa
much love
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Thanks, Gillena <3
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Being caught in the doldrums, to be saved by a storm. What a frightening idea, sailing across mountainous seas. I truly admire the grit and bravery of sailors. Stunning poetry. so vivid.
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Freya, thank you for reading and your thoughtful comment.
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a fntastic write Li 🦋🦋🤗🤗🎈🎈🤗🤗🦋🦋
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Thank you very much, CA <3
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An interesting poem, Lisa. I believe I detect a nod to the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. The dominos are amzing.
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Thanks very much, Dwight. I love the dominos also. Seems like it would have taken her longer to set them up. I sure it trains one to be focused.
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Yes, very much so! You are welcome.
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Wow, intense! Love the old-timey language…
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Paula, many thanks glad you liked it :)
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I always enjoy a good poem about the sea and this was epic.
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Truedessa, I’m happy it pleased you, thank you <3
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An inventive piece Lisa merging gothic sea horror with surrealist myth-making – fabulous- I love the nod to the Ancient Mariner 🙌
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Ange, thanks so much for reading and your feedback.
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You are very welcome 💕
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Lovely poem Li. And loved the dominos display.
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Thanks, Sadje. So did I :)
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You’re welcome ☺️
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Drifting by wind and weather is an expression, in Norwegian. Not the thing to do. One must weather the storm, is my thought, reading your poem. You make an interesting vision of fatalism. And the question is if mankind nowadays is in a fatalistic state, longing for a saviour. Thank you.
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Vaccinius, thank you for your thoughtful and insightful comment. I see NYC’s Mayor Mamdani as the first domino. In Michigan and in other congressional primary races across the US, progressive democrats are winning, refusing to take corporate and other PAC $$. This may be the biggest November election to date.
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I can’t imagine what those sea voyages across an ocean were like (and before coal and steam). I like how they are saved instead of destroyed by the storm.
My grandfather once told me that that the ship he was on to emigrate to the US was stuck in the harbor for days because of bad weather, but I don’t know the details.
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Merril, Margaret Atwood describes a sea voyage across the Atlantic so vividly in her book, “Alias Grace.” I’m glad your grandfather made it across OK.
I’m glad “they” (i.e. we) are saved instead of destroyed by the storm.
Thanks much for your comment.
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You’re very welcome, Li!
I remember really enjoying Alias Grace, but I read it when it first came out about 30 years ago(?), and I don’t remember the sea voyage or how she described it.
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