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All I Ask
Is a Tall Ship
The Soul Verse of
Michael Walsh
1
MICHAEL WALSH The writer whose work spans two centuries
“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt.
Poetry is a painting that is felt rather than seen.”
~ Michael Walsh.
BIOGRAPHY
Irish author and co-writer of over 40 books, Michael Walsh is an international
journalist, broadcaster, author - and poet. His collection of over 500 inspiring,
entertaining poems enjoys global acclaim. Born into a literary family, his father,
Patrick, was battlefield companion of American war correspondent legend, Ernest
Hemingway. His lifelong friendship with Sean O‟Casey, Ireland‟s foremost
playwright, endured until their mortal deaths.
Michael's mother, Kathleen, who also mentored his writing skills, was a friend of
Dolores Ibarruri, Spain's Civil War revolutionary La Pasionaria. A consummate
traveler, after visiting over 60 countries, Michael now lives in Spain. He described
himself as first and foremost a devoted son of Eurasia.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A poet does not work in isolation. The inkwell is his heart, inspiration the natural
tapestry of landscape, beautiful women, and life. I pay tribute to my wife, Nadia, my
son Craig and his wife Victoria, and my son Michael. I dedicate my verse to Face
Book friends who, directly or indirectly, inspire so many of my compositions. Their
continued enthusiasm is a driving force and source of both strength and enjoyment.
They are, in a word, family.
2
TITLES BY MICHAEL WALSH
Amazon Book and Kindle editions of these Michael Walsh collections are
beautifully illustrated. Each book features a little over 60 delightful
compositions with appropriate images. These are guaranteed to please you and
make the perfect gift.
POETRY TITLES
HEART TO HEART Volume One
HEART TO HEART Volume Two
HEART TO HEART Volume Three
WHISPERING HOPE
WINE THOUGHTS
ALL I ASK IS A TALL SHIP
IMMORTAL BELOVED
A SYMPHONY OF VERSE
FORTY SHADES OF VERSE
FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK
EUROPE ARISE
NON POETRY
THE FIFTH COLUMN Volume One
THE FIFTH COLUMN Volume Two
TONI MULDOON THE DREAM SNATCHER
THE BUSINESS BOOSTER
Michael Walsh's poetry-music has been compiled by noted Italian video
impresario, Carlo Gallozzi. Such is the enchantment of these exquisite poetry-
video productions that the number of You Tube views quickly surpassed those
of household name recording stars.
The Oldest Love Letter. Poetry by Michael Walsh
The Girl I Met in May. Poetry by Michael Walsh
My Auburn Ma Vourneen. Poetry by Michael Walsh
Ma Vourneen – (My Darling). Poetry by Michael Walsh
Michael Walsh Poetry narrated by Michael Walsh
Conservation of the world’s peoples composed and narrated by Michael Walsh
3
TRIBUTES TO
THE POETRY OF MICHAEL WALSH
Michael Walsh verse receives tributes from all over the world. Whilst all
commendations are equal the better known contributors include Susan Lee, Women‟s
Editor, Liverpool Echo, Willy Russell (playwright Shirley Valentine, Blood
Brothers), Colin Wilkinson Bluecoat Press, Liverpool.
“I was delighted to read your poetry on Liverpool and enjoyed it immensely.” ~ Ken
Dodd, Britain‟s most loved entertainer.
Ken Dodd, Singer, Comedian, songwriter and actor
“The Archbishop (Liverpool) asked me to tell you how much he enjoyed the enclosed
verse.” ~ Graeme Brady, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.
“May I say well done? Your poems are brilliant and everyone who reads them will
identify with most. I enjoyed them very much.” ~ Barbara Noble, Co-founder Nobles
of Liverpool.
“You are doing for Liverpool what Robert Service did for the Yukon ~ immortalising
it in a timeless way.” ~ Bernard C. Cooper, Guild of Master Craftsmen.
“The poems are extremely interesting and make good reading, especially in the
evening when returning from work.” ~ Robert Burns, MD. (Mr. Burns was the
originator of the Irish theme public houses).
4
FOREWORD
Michael Walsh traces his Liverpool family roots back to 1865, the year his great
grandmother arrived in the city from Ireland. His family background is Donegal,
Wexford and Tipperary. His parents were born at the turn of what was to become the
most tumultuous in human history. Both were passionately immersed in the politics
of the period. Upon reaching his fortieth birthday, Michael's father, Patrick, had
fought in four conflicts. An associate and friend of war correspondent Ernest
Hemingway and Irish playwright Sean O'Casey, he married former novice nun,
Kathleen Walsh. His mother's friends included Spanish revolutionary, Prime Minister
'La Pasionaria' Dolores Ibarruri, Liverpool sculptor Arthur Dooley and Irish writer
Brendan Behan.
On leaving school at 15 years of age, Michael spent ten weeks at the Merchant Navy
School for Sailors in Sharpness. During his years at sea he was to visit over 60
countries. With the Beatles, the Mersey Sound, and Liverpool Football Club putting
Liverpool firmly on the world map it was a great time to be alive.
The Earthlings, a group managed by his brother, bass guitarist being his youngest
brother Paul, performed at The Cavern and other Liverpool city clubs. Gravitating
around the city centre and Dock Road, Michael became familiar, friendly or
associated with those whose names are now synonymous with the period.
Still held in great affection, Cy Tucker, Hillsiders, Karl Terry, Earl Preston, John and
Pat Cordwell, Les and Tricia Brown of Coopers Emporium, and legendary blues
guitarist Gary Potter. Balladeer Charlie Landsborough praised Michael‟s verse.
5
Our Liverpool bard was a regular visitor to the studio of Roger Phillips of BBC Radio
Merseyside. He sailed with boxing legend Dom Volante, delivered Dixie Dean‟s
morning milk. Then there was Ricky Tomlinson who was a friend during the early
days of political awareness. Also to be mentioned with great affection, Frankie
O'Connor, and Jukebox Box Eddie, who played with Gerry Lee Lewis. This was the
background in which Michael found inspiration. Noreen, Michael's sister, was an
inseparable friend of Anita Cochrane. A daily visitor to Michael's family home in
Waterloo, Anita went on to bear the child of Paul McCartney's talented child.
Michael provides articles for numerous magazines and international news media. In
2011 he was awarded 'Writer of the Year' by the publishers of Europe's highest
circulation free newspaper. He has authored nearly thirty books, ghosted as many
more.
From 1999 – 2000 his poetry collections were selling more quickly than any other
contemporary poetry anthology. In Liverpool alone 3,000 copies of A Sea Veneer of
Merseyside and Believin‟ of Liverpool were snapped up in weeks. Michael is likely
Britain‟s most prolific living poet.
This collection focuses on call of the sea, Liverpool, and the characters who moulded
his character through his earlier years as a young Liverpool sailor. Testimonials and
tributes poured in over many years. Those paying homage to his unique gift include
those Ken Dodd, Bernard Cooper (Guild of Master Craftsmen); Archbishop of
Liverpool, Rt. Hon. John Prescott, MP, former Deputy Prime Minister, and many
publishers and editors. Other tributes came in from Robert Burns (Irish theme pubs
founder); Willy Russell, playwright: (Shirley Valentine, Blood Brothers). Tributes to
his poetry, far too many to quote here continue to pour in from all over the world.
6
“Poets are suspended between life
As you know it and life as they know it.” - Michael Walsh.
CONTENTS
The Kiss of the Wind
A Tall Ship
The Little Wave
The Faithless Lover (The Sybarite)
The Call of the Sea
I Wish I Were an Ocean Wave
The Haunting of the Grecian
The Storm
The Sun, the Wind and the Schooner
The Ship's Watchman
The Ghostly Bell
The Sailor's Farewell
The Sailor's Return
The Liver Birds
My Cunard Jumper
Oh, Still the Night
My Little Terraced Home
The Kings who walk on Water?
The Rover's Return
The Man Who Walked on Music
Murphy's Salute
The Pilgrim on the Cart
Madeleine
The Neck of Wine
Memorable Moments
Where's My Girl
My Liverpool Marie
My Liverpool Love
Peggy Sue
Atlantic Swells
Liverpool Girls
In Tribute to the Beatles
Vive le Difference
What About my Julie
To Clone a Beautiful Woman
The Scouse Family of Murphyside
Coopers Clock
7
My Grafton Girl
The Honorary Scouser
The Tragedy of Hillsborough
The Outcast (Of Liverpool)
My Drinking Friends
Grey Flannels and Boots
The Tart Behind the Bar
The Siren at the Mersey Bar
I Used to Know Your Mum You Know
The Resurrection
My Own Liverpool
The Shadow on the Beer Mat
The Libertine
The Minus-Millionaire
The Vagrant
The Big Issue
The Upper Crust
The Drinker
The Glass of Wine
No One Throws Panties at Poets
Time Off
Oh, to be in England
I Wish She was Singing Our Song
No One Knows but a Mother
The Fisherman's Fields.
My Little Finger
8
THE KISS OF THE WIND
The kiss of the wind that I love best,
Has the tang of the open sea,
Oh, the warm moist air that breathes the west,
Is the wind that sets me free;
Where a man may go to the farthest shore,
Yet return by a different route,
Where the wheel may turn neither north nor south,
As he sails to the siren's lute.
Aye, the west wind's drift brings the ocean lift,
With its mournful siren sigh.
Let my spirit free on the western sea,
When it's time for the last goodbye.
But the eastern breeze sings the Viking song,
Where a man may yet be king,
Though it blows so cold from the vicious steppe,
And it mourns for the Arctic ring.
It's a league or more to the neighbour's door,
Where the life is weather run,
But a man may sleep by a ten league moat,
Till his life's complete and done.
And the east wind dear has a message clear,
That a roving man will heed,
For its crisp cold song with the message strong,
Is a pledge for the land you need.
9
The southern squall is the plunder wind,
And the spoils of war are sloth,
It's a hammock wind and the watch is charged,
With a care worn eye and oath.
For the warm wind blows from a southern clime,
Where the pirate rover, priest,
With his enterprise and their bible lies,
Win the hearts of the men they fleece.
Oh, the Southern wind is a warm sweet wind,
With a perfume breathing spice,
And it beckons me to the Coral Sea,
And the lure of Paradise.
But the northern wind is a biting wind,
For it flirts with the Arctic waste,
Where the days are short and are bitter cold,
Where the sun sinks down in haste.
And a man may go to his rendezvous,
With defeat and a frozen death;
"I have searched for myself not an earthly end."
Is the curse on his dying breath.
So give me the kiss of the warmer wind,
And the tang of the open sea,
Oh, the soft moist air that breathes the west,
Is the wind that sets me free.
A TALL SHIP
10
I saw a tall ship sailing by,
I wept inside, I knew not why,
The spirit of the wind should breathe,
To bring my broken heart to grieve,
For distant shores, a warmer clime,
A place where bougainvillea climb.
I saw a tall ship sailing by,
Its masts were waving to the sky,
And as a compass needle's drawn,
I felt my soul was raised and borne,
Across the seas, across the waves,
Where sailor men cross sailor graves.
I saw a tall ship sailing by,
It flew so fast the foam would fly,
Then as it stood upon the beam,
I wished myself aboard to dream,
Upon the tall ship sailing by,
To seek a place where I might die.
THE STORM
Forked lightning flashed above me, it lit a fearful sight,
Of crashing waves and washing decks and torn sails put to flight,
And through the crashing thunder, designed to scare I'm sure,
I screamed back my defiance; I even called for more,
For this was I and Nature, in combat we were locked,
I raised my arm up to the sky, "Give me more!" I mocked.
Again the lightning fizzled then came straight to my heart,
I begged the storm to give its all and now it played its part,
Excitement grew inside me, though mortal I am free,
And when I saw the stalk of death I would not let it be,
For I would go down fighting, my spirit wouldn't break,
All that it could give me, and more I knew I'd take.
"What's the matter with you?" I screamed back in my rage,
"Is this the best that you can do in this the war you wage?
Unleash your bolts of lightning and let your thunders roar,
And when you've done the worst you can you'll find I'll still want more;"
Again the lightning bolted and I raised my rain-soaked arm,
"Come!" I called contemptuously. "This is but a calm!"
11
The gods unleashed their fury yet my boat and I were one,
A clutch of wood to others but to me it was a son,
I fought back burning teardrops, to see my boat so torn,
Broken spars and rigging, yet did it look forlorn?
No never, quite impossible; imbued with fight like I,
It fought the waves, the wind and spray, and joined me in my cry.
"Let your lightning crackle and let your thunders roar,"
The wind rose to a fearful shriek and at the rigging tore,
It vented its full fury and all hell did it set free;
I fought the wind and lightning and my boat fought with the sea,
I shook my fist with fury as my shirt tore from my back,
A crested wave engulfed us both, I heard the lightning crack.
Through the mighty heavens the thunder lasted long,
I held on to the sheets and mast and then gave forth with song,
I had never sung that song before, composed I know not where,
I sung of heroes dead and gone, of valiance deed and dare,
And then I had it beaten and its fury was all gone,
The sea had lost its passion and the worst had now been done.
12
What a sight I must have been as on the thwarts I lay,
Exhausted yet still noble, man had won his day,
If I had not defeated the raging storm that night,
If I had failed to win the siege against its raging might,
And death had come to claim me, as yes it might have done,
I would have gone down fighting and still I would have won,
My spirit is unbroken, for that is mine alone,
The earth can have the rest of me,
The flesh, the blood and bone.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Some things in this beautiful world are unchanging,
And equal in their effect on the heart;
The sunrise and the sunset.
Bird song and the soaring eagle,
The love sonnet, and the wistful moment:
This reminds me.
Thank you for last evening's memorable moments;
Your held gaze; our hand-held run through the raindrops,
The longing beyond words.
For so many moments,
When there are only two people on earth.
When all that matters are you and I.
13
IN TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES
Four birds of a feather in music and song,
Were released from the bird cage of old,
They sang as they soared on the Liverpool breeze,
Turning dreams of our youth into gold.
From the Cavern of Cobwebs, of past and decay,
Where their song of youth freedom would rise,
To soar past the Liver Birds set upon stone,
And framed against Liverpool skies.
They lifted our hearts with their songs on the air,
And our hopes joined them high on the wing;
As they soared and they sang how our souls were laid bare,
Till they taught the world's children to sing.
Of love and of peace and an ending to war,
Where the power lies greater in love,
When the world will unite in the shadow of flight,
Of four Liverpool birds up above.
14
MY LITTLE FINGER
I saw my little finger through the bottom of the glass,
"Oh, here we go again," I said. "Another drink, alas!"
The whisky in the glass's base was thin I have to say,
I tipped the bottle upside down and put some more away.
It tipped, I skipped, my mind a swirl.... oh, heavens I felt good!
The thoughts that flooded through my head were clearly understood;
They brought for me, at least for me, a clear reality,
Beyond my little finger what my life was meant to be.
I saw my little finger through the bottom of the glass,
And saw so very clearly what my life had brought to pass;
I understood.... (you bet I would!), that drink is never wrong;
And I... yes, I.... regret to say, I gave them all a song.
So when my little finger through the bottom of the glass,
Reveals to me Life's secrets and the things that come to pass;
Please, Lord be understanding, let sober men all see,
That I'm the one who understands the world's reality.
15
MICHAEL WALSH COLLECTION OF SOME OF THE FINEST POETRY
BY A CONTEMPORARY POET OF INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION
AVAILABLE AMAZON BOOKS AND AMAZON KINDLE
THE POETRY OF MICHAEL WALSH
http://www.spanglefish.com/michaelwalshpoetry/
16
OTHER TITLES OF INTEREST
Michael (Walsh) is much more than a poet. Judged „Writer of the Year‟ by the Euro
Weekly News editorial panel, Michael‟s reflections on the world, the good and the
bad, are enjoyed by a readership estimated at over half a million newspaper readers.
If you enjoy Michael‟s style you are sure to find the „Fifth Column‟ newspaper
column collections equally engaging and inspirational. Toni Muldoon The Dream
Snatcher is his exclusive biographical firsthand account of Mediterranean Spain‟s
most successful fraudster.
The Business Booster
For twenty years, 1988 – 2008, Michael Walsh, who had successfully retailed, and
owned several businesses, was head-hunted by the Guild of Master Craftsmen, and
the Federation of Master Builders. Both superlative quality assurance regulatory
trade associations required a business assessment executive with the skill and
integrity to assess and mentor new business members. Over those twenty years,
Michael became something of a legend himself.
The Business Booster, compiled during his semi-retirement, draws on those
experiences. As a business guide it is unique. It is essential reading for any new or
existing business. Michael Walsh is confident that by reading and acting upon the
advice given, any business will break free from the herd and surge upwards and
forward. The Business Booster is the best possible investment any small to medium
sized business can make.
AVAILABLE AMAZON BOOKS AND AMAZON KINDLE
http://www.spanglefish.com/mwpgw/