Voiles

Sail-ors. Watch the wind and breathes-e-e

“Heave-ho!”

Anch-ors. Sails point to the sea-e-e

Safe travels. Good weather. Pray. Believe.

It was dawn when I set off from Port Lear

The shapes of painted houses disappear

On the opposite end of the starboard

The vacant skyline looms near-ear-ear

But to where

They look to me, yet I despair-air-air

The compass points north; my heart tugs south

The wind says west; the men wants east

The tempest two hours later patiently waits

Affords us the time to stay

Mutiny prowls closer, closer than a broken—

Steering wheel. Where the wood disintegrates-ate-ate

But a mile out of the bay

I gave the order, halt and let us ponder the day-ay-ay

West. Grotesque clouds and melancholy infest

East. Bathed in light, the wave’s gentle crease.

But it is too late

To dodge the sea’s parade.

The rain pounds and kicks and bats and rapes

The egos of men

The waves rush and gallop and strike and drown

The avarice of men

The sky glares and darkens and cows and haunts

The minds of men

The gales howl and rasp and whip and roar

In the faces of men

The vessel tips and seesaws and rocks and rattles

The bones of men

“Help!” But no living souls can break this spell

So it keeps crashing, my death knell

Perhaps it’s time to say farewell

To this beautiful, beautiful world

“Save me!” I bend my body and sink to my knees

Watching above, there’s one and only

He.

But would there be mercy?

Light trickles through the gray canopy-y-y

The vortices die, its captives released

Like candles on an altarpiece

The dock was where we left it, tranquil and sweet-et-et

Weary sailors trudge back to the port

Glad for the reprieve

No more “Heave-ho!”