The Sea Ghosts
The sea ghosts
The first time I went to sea as a mess-boy, it was on an old ship.
It took two days to find my seaman's legs and take a look at my surrounding.
The crew didn´t look real like they were shadows caught up in a war
that was not of their choosing.
When ships were torpedoed and the sea was afire.
Drowning seamen slowly sinking in a circle like a macabre dance of death.
There was something of the night about them I could not fathom.
The war lasted for many years when peace came, the seamen had lost all contact with families and friends.
When this voyage was over, they would get paid, find lodging near the harbour drink beer at ease with tarts and thieves until the money ran out.
Then a new job, one voyage at a time.
I wanted to but could not be one of them; life interests me.
The sailors had found something I could not emulate, their peace of mind
was shrouded in the mist a yearning for Saragossa.
Copyright © Jan Hansen | Year Posted 2021
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