I have made up my mind now...

[anteros_lmc]

One of the papers we heard at the Port Towns conference was about the experiences of sailor's wives in the Åland Islands and the presenter finished with this lovely piece. She referred to it as an American poem called "The Sailors Wife", but it seems that it's better known as "The Nantucket Girls Song". I suspect some of you will be very familiar with it already, but for those that aren't, here it is. It's lovely :)

~ The Nantucket Girls Song ~

I have made up my mind now to be a Sailor's wife,
To have a purse full of money and a very easy life,
For a clever sailor husband is so seldom at his home,
That his wife can spend the dollars with a will that's all her own,
Then I'll haste to wed a sailor, and send him off to sea,
For a life of independence is the pleasant life for me,
But every now and then I shall like to see his face,
For it always seems to me to beam with manly grace,
With his brow so nobly open, and his dark and kindly eye,
Oh my heart beats fondly towards him whenever he is nigh,
But when he says Goodbye my love, I'm off across the sea
First I cry for his departure, then laugh because I'm free,
Yet I'll welcome him most gladly, whenever he returnes
And share with him so cheerfully all the money that he earns
For he's a loving Husband, though he leads a roving life
And well I know how good it is to be a Sailor's Wife.

The image here is from the Nantucket Historical Association, which holds the original journal containing the poem.

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

This is actually true. Navy wives have a sort of cycle-- you are very sad just before they leave, and just after.Then, for say the middle four months, you are ok. Then you are very happy just before and just after they come home. Then there is an annoying period--say form three weeks back on, where you rediscover all their annoying ways, and revisit all the my-way, your-way stuff.

I used to actually plan for it.

Of course Nantucket whalers left for years at a time. So that changed the cycle.

Also, you do recall the 'he's at home' !!

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

we thought of you instantly when we heard this song quoted in the presentation

thinking of you planning for it reminds me of Susan and her careful but amusing affectionate preparatory letters facing up to the fact that four years changes a lot of things - and how very many households must have seen that same pattern going on

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

As nodbear said, we felt sure that you'd identify with this. I've known a lot of women, my sister included, whose partners worked on the North Sea oil rigs and supply ships and their experience is similar. It's funny how the experience of the women endures while the role of the men changes. Although in my own case, I was always the one leaving, for longer spells when I was an archaeologist and for shorter trips more recently. I'm done with travelling for the time being though.

Of course Nantucket whalers left for years at a time. So that changed the cycle
Indeed. Though it's interesting to note that this was written by a Nantucket woman on board a whaler in New Zealand's Bay of Islands. Perhaps she was wishing she'd stayed at home spending the money... ;)

Also, you do recall the 'he's at home' !!
How could one forget?!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. It is a thing you prepare for, if you have been through it a few times. Strange to have them home, and strange to be home for them. There is a sense of taking up a thing that was set down. But you are never quite the same person you were before, so the fit is a little odd for a while.

I am sure Susan and Ned learned to treat each other with patience. (And I am sure there were times when she--at least for a moment-- wished he would just go to sea!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

And I am sure there were times when she--at least for a moment-- wished he would just go to sea!
And take his tigers with him!!!