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We often walk a strange path when guided by circumstance or coincidence. I was in Fleetwood recently searching for two graves in the cemetary, one as a result of a query posted in the Forum.
This was a search for the grave of a Confederate army officer lost when a paddle steamer went down near the Norwest Lightship, off the coast of North Wales. I was unsuccessful in that search but I was amazed to come across the grave pictured below, and this is where coincidence comes into it.
People who visit this site regularly will be aware that I recently posted a page with an excellent article by Charlie Gregory, "Sailing With Hunters". Charlie sailed as Sparks out of Hull and was friendly with the Sparks aboard LAFOREY so the first person that I thought of was Charlie. I didn't even know that any Fleetwood men were aboard LAFOREY when she went down in the Fiords.
I took a picture of the stone and sent it off to Charlie and he responded with the following, which speaks volumes.
In a Graveyard
By a stone where seabirds shriek, a phantom
woman kneels to weep for 'loves' she lost - and
one who shared her tortured grief. Weeps with the
voice of the wailing wind, for tousled-boy
and plait-haired girl - and one who held her tight.
Weeps for the dawn of a winter's morn - numb
world of lily-scent with ghostly shroud o'er
white faced girl. Weeps for the man who fights for
fish in the fated trawler LAFOREY,
'til callous storm gods dash his life away.
Weeps for George who whispers low as he pines
for children snatched-away ... 'Oh my sweet, this
pain must go. In the breeze our grief will blow ...'
Three souls float on the fitful wind - George, lass,
tousled-lad - while the woman weeps alone. |
