Bounty of the Sea

'Twas dawn and all the sky blazed red. The tell-tales snapped like waving flags. The keening wind was full of dread; all surplus sails were stowed in bags. Though somewhere on the restless main the sea was growling in the deep. Its purpose no one could ascertain; but there it stirred and did not sleep. The rigging was that of a yawl; with a belly stuffed with fine, fat fish. She rolled and rocked with bounty’s haul and scuppers drained at every swish. Poseidon’s wrath had come, indeed! His patience done, with none to give - he’d have his vengeance for man’s greed and drown those sailors, none would live. The sailors reefed and mainsail set and lashed their helmsman to the wheel. ‘Twas raining cats and dogs and yet, their hearts were numb; they could not feel. A sea witch howled and sirens wailed. In sheerest terror, on they fled across the bounds of hell they sailed as the sea purged all, except its dead. The raging wind and driven spate was like no tempest known before. No one aboard could fathom fate, nor could they reach a leeward shore. Then suddenly, the main gave way; and then the mizzen caught a wave. Cold fury churned in foam and spray and drowned both craven and the brave. Today there is a silent sea where calm belies a horrid truth, Our ocean dies, and so shall we - gone is the bounty of our youth.