Saturday, August 22, 2015

At Sea

Far distant was the shore; no seagulls cried,  
       No loud, approaching voices on the wing.
    No other noise was there, save water’s lap,
    Out on the salty ocean, far from shore.


   The crewmen, silent all, were still and cold,
   Not one stepped forth to look with steadfast eye;
   Movement on this vessel long had ceased,
   Out on the salty ocean, far from shore.


    The captain in his swinging hammock lay,
   Dead fingers round a telescope tight curled;
  He’d still not sighted land when last he fell
  Out on the salty ocean, far from shore.


    A ship’s boy, by the mast lay slumped asleep,
   Upon this first voyage he’d longed to go;
  He never knew that he’d  float there forever,
    Out on the salty ocean, far from shore.  
   The first-mate, and the second, lay nearby,
   O’er cards, the game turned now eternal;  
What coins had each ship's hand there lost and won?
  Out on the salty ocean, far from shore.


   Lonely now are all of these poor sailors,
   No friends now, drifting on forever.  
  To souls’ Judgement now is thought their only course,
     Out on the salty ocean, far from shore.