Wakeless
With a heavy heart and an early start and no moment’s rest from the crashing dark
The bucking beast beneath his brow cries into the night.
The rain streaks down to join the crowd of cheering, sobbing waves that sound
Like masses burned and baptized— still the ship runs on.
And flowing ebb does spin its web to make his sandy grave instead
But he pushes on in search of dawn long since run aground.
The lightning strikes— crash!
And here come down its raging crowns of mist and foam that sweetly drown
The sailor foolish enough to try and tame the steadfast waves.
A moment’s light bestows the sight upon the captain’s endless fight
As man and beast in mindless fear are nothing before the sea.
And skin of clay all melts away as earthly sins are hid from day
But this captain’s made of more than dirt and he opens his mouth to sing.
The wave pounds hard the deck, who’s shards release into the nighttime stars
But still the sailor laughs and grins, his hands slick fast with salt.
The wheel it turns with cold that burns the hands of the man, who’s long since learned
From stormy nights and a freezing life how to be one with the sea,
Who’s fear-fueled sweat is ocean wet and smells like the briny, seaweed threat
Of lonely ends found on careless waves under stars that wave goodbye.
And still his ark alights so stark when the sky casts down those frenzied sparks.
Man caught in the endless war between the sky and the angry sea,
Where rain lashes fierce like fiery tears through the captain’s old and weathered beard
And he laughs and sings along alone to the weeping of the clouds
That vault his church, the long-lived search, and pious and faithful is his urge
To die in storms that wail and howl with voices made of sirens.
Oh, a eulogy for euphony! This world’s distinct cacophony
Drowns him dry on land that cries and begs for his return.
But captains stay with ships away, long far from love or earth,
And fickle seas receive their own and never end the search!
Copyright © Nicole Lauren | Year Posted 2023
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