Doldrums - Tombstone Chronicles XII - Zephyr
Holworks Music 2026
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Doldrums
A song story by Mark S. HolmanHe left the trade winds too early, certain he knew better. Chased a shortcut across the painted chart and found himself parked under a sun that refused to move. No shadow on the deck. Sails hung limp like laundry left out on a still Sunday. An albatross of regret settled heavy around his neck.The ocean had become a perfect mirror of blue glass. No gale to lean into, no wave to ride. The only wind left was the restless one inside his own chest.This was the Doldrums.Freightliner miles had taught him how to push. Oklahoma dust had taught him how to wait. Now the silver in his beard ran with sweat and the old oak rings of his years kept counting while the sea itself took a long, quiet rest. No El Niño roar. No cold La Niña breath. Just a sky so close it felt like it might press the air right out of his lungs.Milkweed pods stayed shut. Nothing would fly when there was no wind to carry it.He sat on that glass, burning under the sun, praying for even the smallest cat’s paw of breeze. Harbor your patience, he told himself, like a plains drifter waiting on rain. Purpose isn’t always a storm to chase. Sometimes the purpose is simply to remain. Leave the lights on. Let the heat tell the truth. You don’t find the wind by running. The wind finds you.Then it came.A single ripple. A whisper from the east. The trade wind remembered his name and called him back. Full sail would come later—the second wind would rise—but first a man has to be still long enough to be found.The glass broke into diamonds. The waiting ended. The old life lifted and a new one began.Gone from the Doldrums.Air push… carry me on.
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Doldrums
Left the trades too early, thought I knew it all
Chased a shortcut line across the painted wall
Sun parked straight overhead, no shadow on the deck
Sails hanging like Sunday shirts, an albatross limp around my neck
No gale to fight, no wave to ride, just a mirror made of blue
And the only wind that's moving is the one inside of you
Oh, this is the Doldrums
Where the world goes still and dumb
Where you learn the wind ain't yours to summon
You just wait till kingdom come
Sitting on glass, burning in the sun
Praying for a cat's paw, just one
In the Doldrums
Freightliner taught me push, Oklahoma taught me wait
Learned that bein' becalmed ain't the same as bein' late
Silver in my beard dripping sweat down to my chest
Old oak rings keep counting while the ocean takes a rest
No El Niño roar, no La Niña cold, just a sky too close to breathe
Milkweed won't fly when there isn't a wind to leave
Oh, this is the Doldrums
Where the world goes still and dumb
Where you learn the wind ain't yours to summon
You just wait till kingdom come
Sitting on glass, burning in the sun
Praying for a cat's paw, just one
In the Doldrums
Harbor your patience like a flat plains drifter waits for rain
Purpose isn't a storm to chase, sometimes it's just to remain
Blow out the lights? No — leave them on, let the heat be the truth
You don't find the wind by running, son — the wind finds you
Then a ripple on the water, just a whisper from the east
Trade wind remembers my name, calls me back to be released
Full sail's coming second wind too, but first you have to be still
Doldrums don't mean you're broken, just means you are waiting on His will
Oh, leave the Doldrums
When that cat's paw starts to run
Watch that glass break into diamonds
Watch that old new life begun
Sitting on glass, now rising with the sun
Thank God the waiting's done
Gone from the Doldrums
Air Push carry me on...
- Mark S. Holman
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