H L Hunley risen from the grave!
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| H L Hunley Recovery in 2000 |
layered in rust, silt and sand
shells and sediment preserving.
Entombed in you a missing crew, more
than hundred years you kept your secrets!
First ever to sink a ship, in wartime
‘USS Housatonic’ was her name, with
five of her crew and nine of your own!
To a peaceful rest, full Confederate honor.
rests the nine, tens of thousands in audience
safe in Magnolia Cemetery are all crews.
Thrice you sank, even your creator!
Still your mission, now complete, your
Conservatory in Charleston, H L Hunley,
national treasure, risen from the grave!
her contents for all to share, Breach Inlet
Sullivan’s Island are all still there.
Queenie’s golden ‘life preserver’ found!
A true life legend, love charm is sound.
Citations:
Naval History and Heritage command
Photos from US Navy Public Domain
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-us-cs/csa-sh/csash-hl/hunley-s.htm
Cinquain
rather cool...i find treasure hunting fascinating...and finding a sunken ship and all hte history it could contain is very cool...
ReplyDeletea fabulous poem-- the cinquain well-suited to this lovely tribute. xxxj
ReplyDeleteah there is something magical with old ships..
ReplyDeleteWow... that's so neat to be able to find a sunken ship and bring it back.
ReplyDeleteI was in awe when they found the Mary Rose about 25 years ago which was the 'flag' ship of Henry V111 new navy at the time.
Always in awe of history and what it can reveal. Lovely piece.
A fitting and masterful tribute to this historical event.
ReplyDeleteAgree with James. The bits of American history raised from the deep honored by your words.
ReplyDeleteI love old ships and especially when I visit America now and then to go down tot he harbor and look at them they seem so magical for some reason like you can almost hear the history of them told inside the wooden planks
ReplyDeletehttp://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/04/memories/
Not sure I got from your fascinating poem that this was the first submarine ever to sink a ship, and that it was an innovative Confederate vessel built and deployed against the Unon during the Civil War (or the War Between the States, if you happen to be of the Southern persuasion). I googled after reading your poem and learned that the sub is now at The Warren Lasch Conservation Center at 1250 Supply St in the former Charleston Navy Yard, North Charleston, South Carolina. It is being examined and preserved there. The Hunley is in a specially designed tank of fresh water, but visitors can tour the building and see it. Wish I could get there!
ReplyDelete