New version moves me.Dear editor, Having served in the Royal Navy, circled the globe twice by sea and seen the magnificence and fury of Biscay and Cape Horn Noun 1. Cape Horn - a rocky headland belonging to Chile at the southernmost tip of South America (south of Tierra del Fuego) Chile, Republic of Chile - a republic in southern South America on the western slopes of the Andes on the south Pacific coast , I sympathize with Verb 1. sympathize with - share the suffering of compassionate, condole with, feel for, pity grieve, sorrow - feel grief commiserate, sympathise, sympathize - to feel or express sympathy or compassion your readers who deplore de·plore tr.v. de·plored, de·plor·ing, de·plores 1. To feel or express strong disapproval of; condemn: "Somehow we had to master events, not simply deplore them" the bowdlerizing of the seafarers' hymn, Eternal Father (September and October letters). I have sung this hymn on numerous occasions--in shore-side chapels and on heaving decks at sea, the padre's robes robe n. 1. A long loose flowing outer garment, especially: a. An official garment worn on formal occasions to show office or rank, as by a judge or high church official. b. An academic gown. c. blowing around in a half-gale--and it never failed to move me. The new version moves me too but I am not sure whether to laugh or cry. So: Eternal Father strong to save From all but the engulfing wave Of correctness, political and other; But at least they spare us "Eternal Mother." O hear us when we cry to you 'Gainst words we sailors never knew. Colin Proudman Toronto |
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