POET’S CORNER

Truelove

She was built in Philadelphia in 1764 Truelove was a privateer in the Independence war

Arrested by the British and sold on by the Crown

To a wine merchant in Hull, a booming east coast town

1784 Additional timber fixed in the hull, the refits complete

As Truelove is prepared to join Britain’s largest fleet

The owner viewed the ship, thought she looked fine

“There’s bigger profits in whalebone than Portuguese red wine”

1835 That terrible time on that long ago day

Trapped for six weeks in Melville Bay Twenty ships crushed by the moving pack ice

But Truelove’s design raised her from the vice 1847 Truelove sailed into Hull on a dark stormy night

Captain Parker brought two Inuits home to publicise their plight

The teenagers, Memiadluck and Uckaluk far from their icy home Now in Hull to see the world, together but all alone

The fundraising was successful in Manchester, York and Hull

When Truelove sailed for Cumberland Sound the Eskimo’s cabin was full

Clothes, tools and guns for to make a better day

But Uckaluk became seriously ill and died along the way

Uckaluk died of measles before she could reach home

Caused by the hand of friendship and the invitation to roam

She now lies on Kinatuk though her short life was full

Memiadluck left with memories of Truelove, Captain Parker and Hull

1873 Outward bound for the Americas and Philadelphia docks 109 years had passed since Truelove slipped from their stocks

She was lauded and received her flag, festivities on the shore

Time had been a healer “we are enemies no more”

1888 A breakers on the Thames was to be her final trip

Such an ignominious end for no ordinary ship

Hostility, cruelty, friendship, a message for us all

Now the once proud flag of Truelove adorns our museum wall

Welly.

Food for thought

What would you wish for if your dreams could come true?

Would you think about others or just about you?

Would you buy all you want or just what you need?

Would you be charitable or just full of greed?

Would you think of some or one of the needy charities out there? Or just of yourself saying why should I care?

Would you look in your past where perhaps you did wrong?

And perhaps put things right now times gone along!

There’s one thing for sure in our life on earth,

When you leave it behind it won’t matter to you what you’re worth!

Franmac.