Oceanic Panic - poem

Oceanic Panic

Our captain was new, he ordered the crew with arrogance he had not earned. His voice rang aloud, aggressive and proud, it went well until our luck turned. The man on the mast called out as we passed, a ship had been wrecked on the rocks. The men there were stranded, together they landed on an island quite far from our docks.

They needed our help, we heard as they yelped, they were happy to see we were near. But the captain instead kept on where we head, and told us to keep our minds clear. “We can’t be distracted by how they have acted, their impudence brought them their due. Our course will sustain, you cannot complain, we are paid more the quicker we’re through.”

That did not sit right, it started a fight, then the captain shot up in the air. By the crack of his gun, his notion had won, but the crew did not think it was fair. The man beside me, he did not agree, he said “It could one day be us.” He was struck to the ground just for making a sound, in that moment I gave him my trust.

In the cots of our bunk I found his heart sunk, I told him to listen to me: “Those men can be saved, but we must behave in a manner of some cruelty. Tonight there’s a time when the planets align, corresponding to powers unknown. I have studied the way how their vast interplay can channel ambitions to grow.”

The sailor was scared, but he promised to dare, and he met me to conjure that night. On the top of the deck while the rest of them slept, the flames of my soul went alight. To the stars of the ocean I gave my devotion, as well as the planets aligned, For the dream of design can be held in my mind and I knew what could pay for this crime.

I called to the lost, with their tragedy tossed to the locker of undersea fathoms. The ships of the sea with unseen luxury, and the people who sank into chasms. I wished for their presence, I called their attendance, then let my conspirator speak. His heart was in tune with the ways of the moon, and the ritual made me go weak.

“Please help save those men, they could be my friends! They are shipwrecked, we cannot give aid. We are led by a man who does not understand, the sea judges what choices are made. Come make us turn back, I have been attacked for attempting to open his heart; The push of the wind only feels like sin, by their sorrow my spirit is marked.”

The waves started to swell, by the ring of the bell, all hands were then called to the deck. The night took the form of a furious storm, the ocean sprayed frigid and wet. A maelstrom swirled, our heading had curled, but then the men started to yell. They saw in the ocean a brewing commotion, a bubbling portal to Hell.

Then skeleton ships arose from the depths with barnacles, seaweed, and brine. They closed on us quickly, their sailors were sickly; decrepit and given to time. It happened so fast, they shot down our mast, which crashed down and hit the top deck. Our captain came out with a terrible shout, and what happened I’ll never forget.

They had come aboard, this nightmarish horde, we did not put up a defense. They started to speak, so sunken and bleak, which left us in constant suspense. “This ship was to die, you were not to arrive at the harbor you desperately seek. Your motions were vain, and furthered the pain of they who were crippled and weak.

You left them for worse and so they had cursed this crew and the boards of this vessel. They sparked a corruption to bring your destruction, by sacrifice all would be settled. But what did we hear? Your choice was of fear! Your captain had forced you to this. Please give him to us, and then you can trust: your misfortune is sure to miss.

For the bones of that man we have marvelous plans; if they’re strong we can carve them to nails. We’ll flay him alive, and if he survives, we will sew his skin to our sails. His impudent kind we do love to find, he thinks that his life is worth many, But beyond meat and bones, the sea has no thrones, just depths holding horrors aplenty.”

The captain, he quailed, we sailors prevailed in throwing him over to them. He squabbled and cried, at war with his pride, he tried not to further condemn. “Please help me, I say! I’ll raise all your pay! You’re better than this, we can fight!” I had to reply “I am glad you will die, for your power has come without right!”

The captain was taken, his pride all forsaken, the rest of us knew what to do. We fixed up our mast and after long last, the people marooned came in view.

I thank you for any feedback, it's great to hear from you. I haven't been in Seattle area for a long time, but I remember enjoying the wiring group very much. Many talented people.