The ship slowly eases out of her berth,
Her course charted, she leaves the shelter
Of the deep harbour draped with granite cliffs.
Whitecaps dance across the dark blue sea,
Magnificent mountains slowly fading in the distance,
Deep in thought, she braces herself on the rolling deck.
The rugged vista of Newfoundland tugging at her heart,
A brisk northerly wind cleanses body and soul!
In this blissful moment she is willingly imprisoned.
Lines of wisdom and maturity in her face,
Unbiased love and compassion fill her heart,
Memories of her youth, her family, torment her,
Life has slipped by in a heartbeat!
She has made this trip many times before,
But never has the yearning for what was, been so powerful.
Her island home is ageless, distinctive in its seclusion
With only the cold North Atlantic on the doorstep.
There was a time when the isolation troubled her,
Now she clearly sees the tranquillity, for the very first time!
Closing her eyes she inhales deeply,
Errant tears slipping from the corners of her eyes
Mingling with the salty spray carried along on the breeze.
With a silent prayer, she thanks God
For who she is and where she’s from.
And with one last look at the horizon,
She blows a kiss into the brisk wind,
Reverently touching her heart in honour of Newfoundland,
The enchanting island that holds a piece of her heart!

  Submitted By: Nancy Crossman