CargoesCargoes

Cargoes by John MasefieldCargoes by John Masefield

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir,Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,With a cargo of ivory, And apes and peacocks,Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus, Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores,With a cargo of diamonds, Emeralds, amethysts,Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.

Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack,Butting through the Channel in the mad March days,With a cargo of Tyne coal,Road-rails, pig-lead,Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.

A modern day cargo…A modern day cargo…

• The cargo ship MS The cargo ship MS Napoli ran aground Napoli ran aground on 20on 20thth January January 2007, off the coast 2007, off the coast of Devon. It was en of Devon. It was en route from Belgium route from Belgium to Portugal when a to Portugal when a severe storm drove severe storm drove it onto rocks.it onto rocks.

• Several of its cargo Several of its cargo containers were containers were washed up on the washed up on the beach at beach at Branscombe, Branscombe, causing a huge causing a huge influx of ‘treasure influx of ‘treasure hunters’, eager to hunters’, eager to scavenge some free scavenge some free booty.booty.

• Amongst the Amongst the more more glamorous glamorous items of cargo items of cargo were were electrical electrical appliances, appliances, wine casks, wine casks, perfume and perfume and even BMW even BMW motorbikes!motorbikes!

• Less appealingly, Less appealingly, King Edward King Edward potatoes, engine potatoes, engine parts, used office parts, used office supplies and supplies and nappies were all nappies were all found washed up found washed up on the beach.on the beach.

Cargoes of the future…?Cargoes of the future…?

• Our modern day cargo ships are Our modern day cargo ships are enormous, reaching nearly half a enormous, reaching nearly half a kilometre in length. They carry every kilometre in length. They carry every kind of consumer goods imaginable. kind of consumer goods imaginable.

• But how might things be different in But how might things be different in the future?the future?

•What will the goods of the future What will the goods of the future be?be?

•What will the cargo ships of the What will the cargo ships of the future be like? Faster? Larger? future be like? Faster? Larger? Smaller?Smaller?

•Will they be ships as such, or will Will they be ships as such, or will we use other means of transport?we use other means of transport?

•Will there be any need to Will there be any need to transport things at all…?transport things at all…?

http://www.haileybury.com/public-events/schools-events/art-and-creative-writing-competition-2013

• Consider these questions and use Consider these questions and use them as inspiration to write either a them as inspiration to write either a story or a poem for the Haileybury story or a poem for the Haileybury Arts Festival. Your entry must be Arts Festival. Your entry must be handwritten and not exceed 500 handwritten and not exceed 500 words. Deadline is Thursday 7words. Deadline is Thursday 7thth March. Good luckMarch. Good luck