'Cargoes' by John Masefield

This was the first poem I remember: our class teacher Mr Sheehy, beating out the different rhythms for each verse with a ruler on his desk while the whole class chanted the words in unison. A very powerful awakening experience for an eight or nine year old. 

 The place names created such enchantment and romance too. 

 When I cross the Tyne on the train on Friday morning to meet Our Kid for the 'Magic Weekend' that final verse will spring to life again.

 For all these year I have never known what an amazing life that Masefield had. The poem found posthumously at the end of the article is a terrific epitaph.



Collier Ship 'Fulham' being loaded with Tyne coal, Dunstan Staithes, 1946

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