Loving A Sailor

Loving a Sailor is not always gay,
Loving him truly is a high price to pay.
Its being alone with nothing to hold,
its being young but feeling so old,
Its having him whisper his love for you,
its whispering back you love him 86 plus two.
There comes a kiss and a promise of more
as his ship slowly glides away from the shore.
Reluctantly, painfully, letting him go, 
while you're dying inside for wanting him so.
Watching him leave with eyes full of tears,
standing alone with your hopes, dreams and fears.
Its sending a letter with the stamp upside down
to your far-away love in a far-away town.
Its going to church to kneel and to pray,
and really meaning the things that you say.
Being in love will foster your dreams
of that far-away sailor your mind fairly beams.
Days go by, no mail for a spell,
you wait for some words to hear that he's well.
Then a letter arrives and you're given in,
to open his letter and smile with a grin.
Yes, he is well and misses you so,
and is filled with the love you want to know.
Weeks are like months and months are like years,
you wait for the day when you'll have no more fears.
Days go by slowly, how many have passed?
Then suddenly you realize its here at last!
Yes, loving a sailor brings bitterness and fears,
loneliness and sadness and despondent years.
Loving a Sailor isn't much fun
but its worth the price when the battle is won.
And remember he's thinking of you every day,
he's sad and he's lonely while so far away.
So love him and miss him and hold your head high,
Be strong and have faith, wipe that tear from your eye.
Your man's a seafarer, like that old ancient trader,
It's a high price you pay for loving a Sailor.

Captain 'O.W.' Wright, USN
© 2 Jan 1991, © 2002
USS Theodore Roosevelt · Desert Storm

A little history on this poem written by Captain Wright's wife:

This poem has been published a lot of places on the web without our knowledge or permission. If you know of a place please email them and ask them to give credit to my husband: Capt 'O.W.' Wright, USN, for writing the poem during Desert Storm. The poem was published at my request in "The Virginian Pilot" in March 1991, and I recited it at church that same month, and sent it to a few friends.  It was placed in our AOSC wife's club newsletter "The Mermaid" in 1999. Little did I know it would become the Sailor's poem.

Capt Wright took command of RTC Great Lakes on 8 Dec 2001 after completing a successful tour as CO of NAB Little Creek, Norfolk VA. The CNO, Adm V. Clark, has this poem in his office. There is also special art I had commissioned by artist Renee Lyons for the poem.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy please email  Capt Wright or Doni 
or to see poem and art work,
click here

Thank you for giving me permission to use.