Whatever It Is, A Mariner's Tale Comments

How interesting Goodfew that you see distress in this poem...it is actually a love poem which is a very real kind of stress. This poem derives from actual fact of two people, once were lovers when much much younger then broke up, ensuing marriages in between and consequent divorces and then years later meeting again, looking at old photographs when they were lovers in the Caribbean, she playing a Martin, singing angelically, and he sailing a sailboat teaching her the names and ways of sails and such...the fear of trying love again yet age and loneliness compelling a Yes, Let's Try in them both... So, yes, stress. Risking the heart again in much older age after a life history of risks and more breaking...

i see distress in this poem