Sail-less Ship

At the time I 'shot' this ‘Sail-less Ship,’ as I call it, in the 60's, I had no idea just how meaningful it would be for me in my later years. In these years!

Or how ironic. It's what is not in my image, what doesn’t meet the eye, what wasn't aboard this ship that day, that should have been; that makes it so ironic for me. You see; this had to be on board or else it could not sail. But I had to wait for years afterwords to grasp it, for it to finally sink in and ‘meet my eye.’ I was pretty dense.

It may seem only a picture of a sail-less ship but there's more. This ship is now lost in the ages with just it's memories to hold. How it once cut through the seven seas, the pattering feet of the many deck-hands that cared for her and the captain that steered her. (Maybe he had a wooden leg) These are the same memories now, mind you, that keep this ship afloat. Sadly, this great ship’s only function now is to please the tourists, in it's Boston dock. Like an old bird, clipped of it's wings and stuck in a somewhat of a zoo, disguised as a dock. It is now held back from feeling it’s hull cut through the sea and the salty air sting it's face and fill it's mast as it used to. Now caught in a harbor for the rest of it’s life - famous for it's "Tea Party," no less.

Like the teenager I was; and I was pretty dense ....

....my ascetics were just developing, as was my grasp of history. As time progressed, as did the blooming of my artistic flower - I came to realize just how different life was, when those few stars of the flag flapped over this old ship, and, in many ways, how better things were then, in that grand time when this ship rocked in the waves of freedom.

Other than all the discoveries, since then, that were realized and developed, and all the precious inventions that their patient scientists carved out for us, making our lives so much easier; there was one natural product, more of an ancient commodity, that did not need "fixing," or replacing, or did it need proof that it worked, or did it need to be advertised, or did the farmers need permission to grow it. It was as helpful when this flag flew above this ship, and many years before, as it remains so today. Or, as so it should be. How could we have forgotten about it, something this precious? Or did we? Or was it just up-staged by it's wild cousin?

Our liberty loving for-fathers would not only spin in their graves if they knew of our antics, how we have bastardized most of what they held so dear. And the government that preceded them that is more like a bully now that scares the American people into believing that security is more important than their liberties and that whatever they say is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. They would surly pop out of their grave, while spinning, or probably just die again, if they knew how their creation, their fine-tuned Constitution; what they committed treason for; has now been edited, or amended! And they surly would be mightily upset if they knew how this government, supposedly for the people, have lied and led their people in the wrong direction concerning the most multi-useful plant on Earth. Hemp.

As then, so there is now; patriots fulfilling their duty, swimming against the current of misguided adversity; who are reminding the people of their blessed freedom their country once provided and of the seemingly endless uses for this plant. And how it could help our Planet, our economy, and our health and still have room for more uses and miracles, but they to, like our forefathers in some respect, are treated like they are committing treason. As if they are the criminals that should be strung-up, drawn and quartered for threatening life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. For these are the very people, patriots no different than our wise forefathers, that regret only having one life to give for their country. These patriots are merely following in the footsteps, and thank God for them:

Our Jack Herer, Tom Forcade, Marc and Jodie Emery,Ed Rosenthal,Tommy Chong, Allen St. Pierre, Keith Stroup, Less Stark, Steve Bloom, Rob Kampia, Bob Newland, Chris Conrad, Steve Hager, Gatewood Galbraith,Don Wirtshafter, Bob Marley and family, Willie Nelson, Renee and Chris Bennett, Dennis Peron, Angel Raich, Loretta Nall, Ron Paul, are just a few of the patriots of our time.

"Plant the seeds of FREEDOM .... overgrow the government." -Marc Emery (on the way to prison)

Who would have ever thought that what made the sails of this ship, the rope that held them up to the wind, and possibly even the dear flag that flapped overhead; would one day cause such an upheaval. And, with the gravity of this commodity’s multi-usefulness, much, much more than just sail canvas, rope and clothes, with even an abundant of medical uses; oddly enough acts as a fueling agent that heats hostile fires; furthering an aggression by some, while denying decades of truth. And, in the middle of their self-inflicted war, denying this blessed commodity to the people. That, I feel, is a sin.

The sails have fallen, keeping this ship docked, unable to transport anything, except maybe the dreams that a few tourists will harbor, that have unsteadily walked on her over the years. Or, possibly the dreams some teenager with a camera will have, who, firing it up through the empty masts at the flag, will harbor years after he prints his image.

Some of the dreams and aspirations will come true. Others, no matter how ideal and safe, will not; continuing how ironic it is to me; this image of a Sail-less Ship.