Sailor

By Sonika Malloth

Heed my words, O sailor! O mighty Sailor!

fastest of Falcons, wisest of wheels

meanest of men and the pertinent propeller

make yours the finest of vessels

Through the parade, in the midst of praise

blessing and good luck, he stood immovable

desperate for a buzz or a murmur or a phrase

somebody, anybody, please say I’m incapable

Yet he set sail with a valiant farewell,

a divided heart — one longing to reach,

its journey blinded by the bizarre will

clear to the other and determined leech

Drenched in cold night rains he shivered

as the stars grew the craft went adrift

streches of profound tranquility tortured

quest for rift outran his internal rift

I beseech thee, bring in the furious storm

sweep the tired to the land devoid of air

devoid of devoir and devoid of any reform

let the shame be scared away from my heir

See the desolate sea blinded by diffidence

a loner walks covered in robes of his fear

yearning to trip and fall and fail, thence

will not feel a prick pierce his flesh ever

Many fools have shed tears and dripped blood

crawled miles across to reach the eternal hour

crying out to the fool who wants to be dead

only pain gives essence to the gentle flower

Heed my words, O sailor! O mighty sailor!

gravest of guts, outrageous of ordeals

plenty of patience and a kind kindler

make yours the finest of vessels

By Sonika Malloth