O’ Hope–O’ frail thing made from feathers and sea wind–
What do you see when you gaze downward?
Our prize has been won with hard-earned blood and steel
Our ship has suffered every shock, every crash
Now it lies anchored in low tide, its purpose done and erased
And he, defeated, dying,
looks to the Hope in the sky
Soldier! Rise up and hear the trumpets, the bells!
I beg of you! Pry open your shrunken lips!
I call to a world held in the throws of dusk,
Lit by Death’s one golden lamp
Earth of departed stars, sea of departed storm
To you, my voice goes out
Soldier! This voyage is done!
Rise up, in search of home!
I can feel the warmth spilling from the deck,
Spilling from my side
Those who surround me feel not for my pulse nor my hand
Soldier, please!
There are distant sounds of cheer and triumph and agony,
The hills are lit by more lamps.
The stars fall as Hope does
The sky lightens, the coming fires of morning cresting the mountaintops
I beg and beg and beg,
Call forth your worst! Call forth your mistress in the sea!
Agonize the ghosts of curses laid long ago!
I wonder when I realised my friends would miss me,
Surrounded by their kerosene suns,
Because I was unable to light the lamp with my shaking match.
About the Creator
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insight
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Comments (1)
Damn, great overall but I am in love with "Surrounded by their kerosene suns" that is a stunning line!!