Animal of the Seas

Animal of the Seas

(c)2012 Bob Atkinson

wandering through the oceans

the ship circled coasts

where people lived the lives

of traditions well toasted

toasted to by those who thought

continuance was success

of what had before been lives

lived out for the best

plowing through the waters

freed from cables and chains

this large animal of luxury

gave satisfaction in place of pain

unseen below the keel

unseen by others' eyes

the beast with throbbing engines

passed over hardened sands

sands upon which flora anchored

and fauna roamed and bucked

when waters left the oceans

below their uncovered crust

but now the large strange animal

which floated upon the crests

of waves of endless waters

kissed the lands that it had blessed

the Captain was surprised

to feel this kiss of death

of the sands below the vessel

knew his career was at an end

frozen, his instincts churned

his mental processes stopped

tried to find a consummate response

while asking for damage assessments

instructed helm to veer toward

the Island of Giglio

he would save the passengers

by sacrifice of his vessel's hull

again the steel animal ground

this time upon a rock

tearing into deeply chewing

its rivets and steel plates

impaled by this large stone

the hull no longer held

water back, the ocean

was by the ship inhaled

bunks that had been slept in

by crews of many nations

and stores of goods to be used

to produce smiles in patrons

flooded down the hallways

never to be used

as they were intended

was the end of this cruise

the crew responded faithfully

did the best they could

but this situation being new to them

wasn't easily understood or stable

those who should have known

what was the ordered way

of ship evacuation to safety

let their communications stray

stray to words of their home tongue

not understood or heeded

by those who lashed the lifeboats

not dropping them neatly into the ocean

the ship assumed the form of

a sea animal in distress

leaning over on its side

wanting only a moment's rest

passengers did what they could

the crew did the same

and rescue boats and helicopters

jumped into the saviors' game

co-ordination wasn't needed

each assistant knew his job

saving as many passengers

as dictated by the hand of God