There began an eerie creaking and a whistle in the air;
the mighty ship went tossing, there was water everywhere.
The sea was wildly dotted with rocks on every side
looming up like tombstones the fitful waters failed to hide.

The captain tried to right her but the canvass ripped to shreds
and the men were all a'certain to the sea they would be fed.
The call went "man the lifeboats" as the thund’ring waves raged on
and the clouds up in the sky obliterated dawn.

Not a single voice could rival the deafening attack
but every man on board that day was determined to fight back
Tho’ terror filled their hearts every hand was working hard
to avoid the murky waters of Neptune’s deep graveyard.

The last man reached the lifeboat just as the ship was rent in two;
and the mast fell like a broadaxe that nearly sliced them through.
The tiny boat was thrown about like a mouse between the paws
of a cat who, when he tires of play, will unleash it’s mighty claws.

The deadly game of cat and mouse endured uncounted time
while the sea reared up it’s ugly head to spit at them with brine,
and no one knows what happened to those sailors on that day.
Perhaps their souls are wandering in Neptune’s wat’ry grave.



     may 2002

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