Ray Ewing

For Trish and Roy

Let us go with you / out on one last tow / How your wake / curls / early morning / crystal cold / rolling down light house point / Big wolf moon rising tide / lets you cut the shoal / a little close.

Let us go with you
out on one last tow
How your wake
curls
early morning
crystal cold
rolling down light house point
Big wolf moon rising tide
lets you cut the shoal
a little close

Let us go with you
out on one last tow
no Cape Pogue gut today
no John Olivers
Shear Pen
Drunkards
Happy Hollow
No Middle Ground
Phil’s Camp
The Cedars
no South End
No picking up
in Poucha
with old man Sandy
No packing bloaters one by one
with Four O’clock Louie
and his old man
Or old man Mello
and Dexter
Or Sam and Mary
Dick and Ted
John and Duncan
Oscar’s there too
Eddie and Fran
Paul and Mary
Al and Adelle in Jambe
Porky and Carol
Benny and his mom
Fathers and daughters
Sons and mothers
Brothers and sisters
All of them
As one

Let us go with you
out on one last tow
Deep water’s where they’re at
today
Light chop might set
a funny kind of way
As dredges clear
the well worn rail
sun sparkles off
the clacking bag
crackling in the wet
and cold
fresh scallops on the board
clear blue eyes
snapping
and alive
Trish smiles
as she jumps on in
Roy smiles too
good stuff
cut well
few barnacles not much shack
The day is bright
as silver dust
falls faintly
from a deep blue sky
not that far from shore

Let us go with you today
out on one last tow
As baskets start to fill
still air stiller yet
The bag hangs in the air
blocking out
the cloud stained sky
2026
Day one
And now the sun is gone
the weather seems to
stake a claim
the gulls start and lift
up from the cull
And just like that
Roy and Trish
are fishing on the edge
That’s where the
big ones are
and where they
both have come

Let us go with you today
the sun is bright
the water’s cold
the air is light
it’s not too rough
to tow
Just you and me
out on our fearless frosty sea
so we can
cast our lust for life
wherever our boat goes

Let us go with you today
outside the bay for
one last tow
and if by chance
we don’t come back
Together we will stay

 

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/06/2026 - 21:52

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Jessica Burnham Exgartown

So beautiful

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/06/2026 - 22:30

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Albert Brazil

The most Heartwarming message to a man suffering the most devastating news of his life from far away but next to them in spirit

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/07/2026 - 09:44

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Rachel Self Cape Pogue

In the moments that leave us speechless, you manage to find the words. Thank you.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/07/2026 - 14:59

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Peg Regan Plymouth, MA

This beautiful poem with its heartbreaking refrain expresses the love and the loss. Thank you

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/08/2026 - 08:48

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Alec Walsh Chilmark

Thank you Steve for this evocative balm. You are a treasure for the island, especially at times like this.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/09/2026 - 14:12

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Rebekah ElDeiry MV

Thank you Steve for expressing all that the seas gives us and also takes away.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/09/2026 - 17:44

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Meredith Goldthwait Oak Bluffs

A beautiful poem, thank you Steve for this heartfelt tribute to Roy and Trisha.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/09/2026 - 19:13

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Dixie Myers Waynesboro PA

I read your words over and over, catching the rhythm that you made in such a beautiful way. Out loud, then silent......so profound. I don't even know what to say, except that you have filled my heart with love and tears,both at once. Thank you from me, over and over.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/10/2026 - 10:42

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BLLB Edgartown

Roy and Tish's prolific catch ...often shucked, measured, packed and off to market...was never greater than the catch they made on shore with all of us. Gladly given up to their charms, lures...loved, and grateful to haven been caught in their net.

RIP

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