Monday, December 29, 2014

Waterfront Oakland (The Secret of the Sea, Part IV, Chapter 3)




The Flaneur takes another walk along another waterfront.






1.
Trains and Boats and a Helicopter




Starting at Jack London Square railroad station






In waterfront Oakland 
Trains haul down the middle of the street





Down at the water a sailboat race for kids





 

Nice older woody at the marina





A quiet place to rest and watch the boats go by







Macho studs of the US Coast Guard






A re-fueling station for their vigilant patrols






Plenty of opportunities to hit the Bay, 
By the hour or by the lifetime







Restaurants with views predominate the Square







Not just the home of the red white and blue





 

  But welcoming to the flags of many nations







Not just for pleasure craft,
But for utilitarian vessels as well
 




But facing facts, one acknowledges what really throbs






That is the thrill of it all




A helicopter careens overhead







Elaborate rigging of a tall ship






Just arrived here from Disneyland




Look no sails needed





Train crossing Washington street 
Earplugs are advised





Coot in a sunken boat,
I'm trying to re-locate le bateau ivre of youth






Here comes the noble Potomac
(We await another FDR )





 

Someone to guide us out of this maze






 

Two ferries bound for the ballpark in San Francisco
The world series or something like that






Beyond the Ferry landing, 
Municipal rescue vessels





The Sea Wolf




Relief, a floating lighthouse





2.
Beyond the Square




Serene industrial streets
(note anti-terrorist berms)





Equestrian cranes wait quietly





Symbolist cul-de-sac,
A Paul Delvaux nude sleep-walks past






Farther on,
 The Flaneur regards an imposing tower






Railroad tracks lead
Into the Port of Oakland






3.

Christmas Party at the Port




Port of Oakland at sunset
Viewed from West Oakland BART station








I was invited to a party at the Port,
A convivial time laden with good food







My friend is a chaplin here,
He brings Communion
 To the mariners on board ships






A visitor painted this image
Our Lady of the Seas,
I see her like this as well








The International Maritime Center
Located way out on a final strip of land
Exhilarating out here at night









The Evening Star 
Over the Bay at sundown,
Far to the South around Solstice







So far out in the Bay, 
Feels like you're almost in San Francisco






The End
Of Waterfront Oakland






Coming in January:
The Secret of the Sea,
the final chapter






2014

2 comments:

Glenn Ingersoll said...

Looks like a nice walk.

I think the one of the cranes is my favorite perspective on them. They look even more animal-like than usual. Maybe it's the trees beside the warehouse which give them a nature context. Maybe it's the angle; they look like they are on their way somewhere.

RAY MAN said...

thanks for yr appreciation, Glenn... the cranes have been adopted as emblematic of the proud and oaklandish