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What
floats upon these Arctic waves
strange lights appear in misty haze
there off to starboard in the night
I spy a host of blinking lights
What could this school of red lights be
who'd send a raft of lights to sea?
as they come closer I perceive
a sight too cruel to be believed
As blinking lights come nigh abreast
I see they are to men attached
to Kapok's of a crew storm tossed
their faces raw from Arctic frost
The redness of life jacket lights
reflects the sadness in their eyes
such lonely and unblinking stares
from men who drift to God knows where
Red rescue lights from their life vests
flash on these men who froze to death
moonlight reflects them floating there
no sign of life, just silent stares
No stone will mark their passing by
no nations flag will proudly fly
no dirge will play upon these waves
this ocean is their only grave
Tears won't be shed, no bugle played
these brave men could not be saved
for such a sight, I rue the day
in my mind it will forever stay
I'll watch no more on starlit nights
afraid what might drift into sight
have mercy God, if war's to be
don't let men die in Arctic seas.
© d.knape
September 8, 2015
*This poem describes a marine tale of men lost at sea, their ship
torpedoed in war. The man standing watch suddenly sees strange lights
upon the water, only to discover that they are the red blinking lights
from crewmen's life jackets. Men frozen to death in Arctic Seas.
More "Once Upon A Line" - Light verse and
poetry by d.knape
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