The Old Man And The Sea

he sailed away
that faithful day
wishing for a 
new start

as a calm breeze
blew him past
the far horizon
his wife watched
feeling his need 
for freedom

there's fish
to be had he
cried out the
night before he left

under a full moon
that told of
better days ahead

of fair weather
and restful seas
with plenty of fish
packed in their schools

his wife mended
the old fishing nets
while he checked
out his boat
for any new leaks

then on a sunrise
he set off to sea
under full sails
and a strong tide

his wife watched
until he drifted
beyond the far horizon
knowing he won't
be back for a while
until fully loaded
with salmon and tuna

but that was
weeks ago
unknowingly
a nor'easter blew
its birth in the sea

raging over the
far horizon
bullying its way
down the coast

catching the ships
sleeping

they say an
albatross cries
for each man
lost at sea

flying until landfall
to sing its news
its sad news
of death

silvery white appearing
from a cloud bank
his wife saw
the albatross
hovering forever
just beyond
the far horizon

calling out its song
of woe and regret
of sadness and loss

until a silvery moon
lit the waters
above some old wreck

the old man still sails
just beyond the far horizon
never to be seen again

a sailing
a sailing on beyond
the far horizon

Paul Vernon Deffendall
July 2, 1997

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