Flotsam and Jetsam

The sea was calm on that fateful day The crew keen and eager to get on their way The cargo was loaded, all men were on board The captain at the helm was standing tall They raised the anchor with a mighty cry And bade farewell with a heartfelt sigh Leaving their loved ones with a fond embrace Not yet knowing the perils they faced They raced through the waters with rapid speed The sails billowing out as the captain took heed Of the clouds building up looking heavy and mean Would they make it to safety and land unseen But the seas became heavier, their faces were ashen When the captain gave the order with gusto and passion “Toss the cargo to the sea, we need to make light Or we’ll not make it through the long, dark night” They threw the cargo over the side With speed and haste and nowhere to hide But still they were sinking with no hope in sight Of land, or man, or a guiding light And in the still of the morning when all was calm While the waves rolled in under the coconut palm All that was found on the distant shore Was flotsam and jetsam from a ship no more