Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Conversation with the Inner Sailor.

I've mused about this for years.

The sailor is indeed an archetype. In many cultures, the sailor is even one of the most well defined of the archetypes. While the ideal lends itself to caricature--it is hard to suggest that the image of the robust, aware, hard-living, passionate voyager with a worldly eye is a mistaken one. . .I know many "sailors," in type, only a few of which have spent time at sea, and fewer yet at sea under sail. There are many archetypes in our human community, for sure, but I will still insist that the sailor, at least in western culture, is a huge one, if not one of the very biggest. Far too many of our scholars, or writers, or thinkers have been sailors at at least some part of their life for this to be mere coincidence. Why? Sailing requires looking ahead, and looking ahead squarely and bravely as its prime requisite. This seems, more and more, to be a shockingly rare characteristic. I guarantee you: while you may cross an ocean with your eyes closed, you will not make port unless you a paying a hell of a lot of attention to what is going on. As we voyage into a very uncertain and uncharted future, only those of us with the highest level of attunement to water and waves, and have the crackest crew, and the most wary hand on the lead will sound our way to safe harbor without mishap. Really, for damn sure. And this doesn't mean that the coast we close with is a friendly one.

People would do well to understand that a sailor, as an type, once he has determined that there is a hole in the boat, and she's taking water, will expect action in a timely manner. He may, as well, be a little less than polite in the urgency of the request to man the pumps.


. . .pump her boys, pump her dry
down to hell and up to the sky. . .
. . .bend your back and break your bones
for we're only a thousand miles from home. . .

7 comments:

mrostron said...

Hardly anyone sails anymore - except as a hobby(including myself), except maybe to race around the buoys a few times a year during summer months. Only a handful of people in a world of some 6 billions...How many people sail across the Atlantic or Pacific a year these days, I wonder? That the world could change so much in 150 years in something to ponder!

Jess Kruger said...

The last few nights I've been having some wacky dreams and you keep making an appearance. I usually take this as a sign to get in touch with someone, so I thought I'd look you up and say howdy. Looks like you're doing really well for yourself, which is great to see. I visited Hawaii two years ago, and it is definitely a gorgeous and passionate place. Cheers! Jess

subgenius said...

Jay,

Where are you?

Inquiring minds miss your posts...

Hope you are well.

kohledfusion said...

His computer is in the shop. I got worried too & called over the weekend :) He's alive and well. I'm jonesing for some Fitz mental nuggets.

subgenius said...

Phew, was getting DTs...

c.c.o'h. said...

Jay,this is a wonderful piece. it inspired all kinds of melancholy reflection in this beached old fart.

Zach said...

Hi Jay...

Stopping by to say... in... need... of... a... fix. Grin.

What have you been up to?

Zach