Rick's Poetry: UnderWay

UnderWay
(c) May 5, 2001

There goes "No Respect"
once again she's left her slip
The sturdy boat is sea bound
for another island trip

Fridge is stocked and tanks are topped
a crew of two today
We're off to Catalina
for a weekend getaway

Just beyond the breakwall
cap' will open up the beast
The sweet thunder from the transome
always puts my mind at ease

There's nothing left to worry
just enjoy the sun so bright
And with the grace of Neptune
we'll be in Avalon tonight

Captain Lou holds her true
and runs a perfect line
We cut right through the popcorn
with twin Detroits so fine

She launches off the top
and slaps the trough again
We got a nine foot southern swell
that makes the bell ring now and then

Sixteen knots in open sea
we're making real good time
Island on horizon
we'll be anchored down by five

Ship to shore -- ten four
the Casino I can see
Shore patrol we need to park
for two days, maybe three

Half the fun is getting there
that's what people say
On that run it all was fun
stayed underway all day

by Ricky D. McKean

Rick McKean (1962-2011)

Rick McKean graduated a track star from Capital High School in Boise, Idaho. After serving in the U.S. Navy with the construction batallion and operating heavy machinery, and time in abroad in Guam, Rick was honorably discharged and took residence in Oxnard, California, near the naval base.

After working several years in various trades, including light aircraft maintenance, locksmith and auto repair, Rick worked for a paper pulp recycling plant in Oxnard until the late 90s. Expressing his love for the ocean, and despite physical limitations, he took up scuba diving and enjoyed good times with friends exploring the Channel Islands off the Ventura coastline. Rick suffered from depression and alcoholism.

The poetry on this site was written in 2001-2002 while an inmate at California Correctional Facility, Salinas, California. After parole, Rick again took residence in Oxnard, purchased a boat, and lived on the water in Channel Islands Harbor. Continuing his appreciation of nature and the environment, Rick worked in harbor maintenance, patrolling the harbor and collecting/dislodging debris that had washed in from sea.

Rick continued to live on his boat and attend AA meetings and treatment programs, and eventually was issued a driver's license and bought a car. In 2010, he drove his car to his home state of Idaho and visited his family whom he had not seen in many years. Despite numerous physicial limitations, Rick continued to live his life to the fullest extent, including handling nearly all of the maintnenance of his boat/home.

In late 2010, Rick bought a new computer, with the intention to publish these poems online. In January of 2011, Rick suffered an untimely death where he sustained a head injury repairing his boat, lost balance, and fell into the water, and succombed to the cold temperatures.

This blog contains Rick's Poetry.

(c) Ricky Dale McKean 2001, 2001

Rick's Poetry

UnderWay - May 5, 2001

No comments:

Post a Comment