Here, where highlighted, the troubles we met,
Long ago, on a ship, far at sea,
Sights that we saw, I’ll never forget,
Comrades, our captain and me.
Winds that grew howling as high as our ship,
Plumbing the depths of our fears,
Submerging the bravest, resisting prayer lips,
Drowning the best of our tears.
Drenched, we stood stalwart, shackled to posts,
To masts, to each other, comrades,
Afeared of the moment all lives would be lost,
No aid despite mayday relayed.
How to fight gods too intent on destruct,
Neptune unleashed, three tined strong,
Maritime fellows, down on their luck,
Awondering how they had done wrong.
Dimmed came the voice on the surge of first wave,
Agrowing as storm mustered force,
All hope relinquished, none left to save,
Shared thought as we fought to keep course.
No hope was left in purser’s aplomb,
All stores to sea bottom had fled,
Blessed we ourselves, each other and home,
Destined for our final bed,
When out from the waves, against father’s rage,
Came the daughter of merman with cause,
Voice of an angel, persuaded, assuaged,
Pled, melody saw storm pause.
A hush on the wind, the ebb and the flow,
Two voices, for mercy, justice,
Abated, we waited, storm clouds still in tow
Then sound of salvation, a kiss.
Whatever she said we might never know,
Best guess is she loved one, she loved all,
No stoppage to find out, we started to row,
Relieved enraged storm was mere squall.
Here, where highlighted, the troubles we met,
Long ago, on a ship, far at sea,
Captain and comrades might still be lost yet
If not for mermaid who loved me.
Still her voice carries, I carry it close
In water and waves, on sea breeze,
Together we both, but for storm that arose,
God judged but heard daughter’s pleas.
Maiden of mercy saw one, she saw all,
Lifted refrain to save love,
Thankful our passage to angelic peace call,
Thanked we, blessed north star above.
scottishmomus 