LUNENBURG LADY

LUNENBURG LADY

LUNENBURG LADY commemorates an extraordinary historical presence that once graced the Grand Banks and the hearts and minds of every Nova Scotian.  She was a dockside working girl, to be sure, and she carried herself with pride.  First to market and first before all, her fame would become the pride of a young emerging nation.  Other pretenders could only give her chase, try as they might with their lilywhite wings.  Oh sorrowful day, when she finally went down to the sea.

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Jim Davis 2021
jimdaviscreativearts.ca

LUNENBURG LADY

Boys did you hear, of a glory told? Of a beauty on the sea?
Born of a mother with a broken mast, a queen of hearts to be.
So clean the lines, yet so full the holds, and masts that would skirt the sky,
And billowing wings to sail aloft, her plumbed so to lift and fly.

The work cold-hard, the souls all dear, a skipper famed for speed;
A carrying wind just shy of a gale, was all her wanted and needs.
Out to the Banks and the fishing grounds; first dories in, first done.
Then fly the catch home, fetch the higher price; bills paid to the very last one.

Well Gloucester beauties, with lilywhite sails, deep pockets craved the prize!
A fisher’s race, a working girl’s place; first challenged – and her did rise.
The skipper’s hand, his eye, his nerve,
And his Bluenose takes to wing.
Oh wonderous sway, and clean the cut, loosed – her makes the heart sing.

Men lust for fame and the gold it pans; but sailors live for the tack.
And the scudding clouds of a rising wind that hurries the sailors back.
Moored now and still, her long trick’s done, and her crew all safe and sound.
But gathering clouds of coal and steel, her sold – no thanks nor stay found.

Boys search your hearts, were they turned stone cold? Old codders, your tears don’t hide!
Burning black oil for a trollop’s toil, her once carried a nation’s pride.
So far from home, the masts long gone, pray what’s now become of she?
Oh sorrowful day off Baie les Cayes, broke, her went down to the sea.
So far from home, those masts long gone, pray what’s now become of she?
Oh sorrowful day off Baie les Cayes, broke, her went down to the sea.
Broke, her went down to the sea.

Copyright protected

Jim Davis 2021
jimdaviscreativearts.ca