There Are Worse Disasters at Sea

"I wrote this after sitting all night in the harbour crying. Someone I loved had just been killed at sea."

"There Are Worse Disasters at Sea"

Soft sounds. Sea waves –
Sapphires lapping.
Fleets of floating sound waves,
Wrapping the ocean in silence.

Saluting sounds. Tolling ship’s bell
Greeting, regulating life aboard.
Greedy gulls and snow-white
Doves of peace wing skyward.

The ocean lazily laps the bow
As seamen obey the peal.
The ring of dogwatch heralding
Solemn sea hours of silent vigil.

Golden lion sunset, preceding
Midnight’s richly velvet blues.
Morphing into morn’s rosette roof
Of pink flamingo hues.

Pure, virginal, unmarked canvas sky.
Evolving into heavenly tapestry.
Sprayed by wide woven sunbeams
Of a newborn day’s awaking hues.

Crying out in colour pangs.
Clothed in rainbow glory clouds.
Pure, warm and gracious.
Smiles and succours mother earth.

Greedy gulls rise, hover, and emit
Soul-stirring screams .Stinging silent air.
Doves fly on sunshine-silvered wings,
Feathers outstretched and cooing peace.

A gentle breeze caresses the waking deck.
As ‘Dogwatch’ gives a final check.
Tireless Sonar continues to ‘ping.’
Ship’s bell tolls and ‘Eight bells’ ring.