I like this. I’m not sure why. Maybe its the back drop of the sea and the sadness of this old sailors life. Reminds me of certain poet maybe

The last stanza is beautiful. A beautiful failure, but obviously, heart-wrenching.

After reading this I read inky blue’s and then re-read this. Is it just me or is your old drunk the end result of the boy’s decision to run off to sea? Beyond that, your descriptions are so vivid I’m sitting here shivering from the winds off the sea! Really like this!