Dead Upon the Seas
Beyond the bloodied horizons breadth,
What beauty hath lured the sun to its death?
Sun, I plead, take me with you
To rise like the phoenix, born anew
Or to some green aisle "neath thy view
Nay, any aisle, any aisle would do
Where perhaps the waves lap gently
Upon a tanned sparkling shore
Where frolic and laughter heard faintly
Break upon my ear as before
To erupt in roars as scores make about their day
The work and play of people happily lost in their way
Bereft of troubles and fates’ forlorn brooding of calamity
Or the seething rue of bone licking depravity
That hath seen me running back to the cold arms of the sea
To fickle fate and gale swept destiny
To this time, see my fellows, thus swept to watery graves
Drowned like feral dogs 'neath thy merciless waves
But not me. Why not me? Was it so I could painfully see
My fellows dread gaping faces and etch them accurately
In an ink upon my heart and eye, that never fades,
To join my dreams throughout the remaining decades?
Here, I lie upon the lifeboat that didn't tip
Shocked and weary with white knuckled grip
Holding on to a life that disparagingly questions it
Spared in spite of those more able and fit
Am I just supposed to make the best of it
As were we all just hours before?
Where the hand of chance chose thee to benefit
And steadied thy boat midst the wrathful pour
Of all of it, sense; I cannot conjure more
Where grief has left me bleeding and sore
Whilst I dream each face, for their lives implore
A god, who seemed some wrath, bore
Had they known as I crept ashore?
Had they known what lay in store?
Away from where the ship lean and groan
Was I some offering to lions thrown?
Fretful dreams, threatful nightmares
Grapple with me till the early dawn hours
Where for, hath descended upon me such vile powers
Coursing like weevils through the hapless flowers
Nor sail, nor hope, thusly stranded here
No sight of land, no seagulls gliding near
None, my cries for help shall hear
Alone with aught but the sea and fear
Beg and borrow 'midst the churn
Alive the 'morrow's safe return
If god heeds me not, if a gale yet blows
And aft' find my body floating 'mongst the rows
Of neverending waves receding from over the shallows
Revealing the long lost graves of those drowned and perished
In nightmarish groans and sallow pales
Oh, stars that quiver, frightful of my fate
Of all that we can do is, but hold on, and wait
In hopes that the sun comes sooth a mournful sea
Tossing and turning in fits of rage 'neath me
Hurling itself upon the swollen planks
As I ask myself the last time, I'd given thanks
Wondering if my desperate prayers were heard
Repeating them midst the shrilling gales, word for word
So long away the morning seems
As time weaves for me many waste dreams
The stars above recede from my peering eyes
The faintly heard gurgles of drowning sailors, dies
Only the tears wept and my muffled cries
As my hand cover my mouth in bold disguise
To not let the shadows hear me in such despair
To seem as I drift off to death without care
So that maybe they won't drag me below the deep
Delighted to see such a coward like me, weep
No, I'm no hero, from which bravery reeks,
I'm aught but a lone survivor. No one seeks
I lay here doomed
Upon the sea marooned
My boat seeming often
Resembling a coffin
Laying wait, of cowl'd death
Counting each fearful final breath
Nor expect to perceive
The raising sleeve,
Nor fatal smite
That set my course
Towards,
Never ending restful nite
And though, not a score will recall my life
Only my son and daughter, four and five
And widowed wife
To them, I send my love and hopes for blessed morrows
To tread not upon the dark and winding roads of sorrows
Let our happier days warm you with laughter and cheer
So that in your loving hearts, I can always be near
... ... ...
... Ho, is that a ship, I see?!
Ho, they blow their horn for me!
They lower their sails,
Their course avails
Upon the churn
Cleave frothy trails
And all aboard
Wave toward a once dead man
Faith defined
My life is thine and seeming part of further plan
God, I thank thee eternally
Hold steady my loves, for I am set free!
But no longer to roam,
But ever toward the shores of my home
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