The Mariner's Lament Poem by Lola Kysar

The Mariner's Lament



There's a peace on the ocean, a turbulence too;
To a sailor these things are nothing new.
The sea is a mistress demanding and clever
By storms she'll hamper your every endeavor.
She'll chill your blood clean through to the bones.
Yet with her cunning ways she'll make you leave home.
She has days she'll make you feel she's calm and fair,
Then the next day shell' spray salt in your face and hair.
She'll make you feel lonely, and in your heart leave a sting,
Yet not knowing why, for her you'll leave everything.
One day she'll be calm and gentle as a kitten's purr,
And the very next day she's like a lion tearing fur.
She'll never let you leave her alone,
Around this world on some ship you'll roam.
For having known her intimately,
She'll call you back again and again out to sea.
You'll leave the warmth of any good home,
To go back to sea, to drift and roam.
You'll never really know the reason why,
But for her you'll do it or die.
No other mistress has ever demanded so much,
Yes, she'll take you away from a woman's gentle love and touch.
She'll take you to the sea leaving salt on your face to sting,
But Oh! in your heart there is still a song to sing.
You'll swear that should you ever again come to shore,
On those high seas you'll never go anymore.
That you'll trade her for a mistress here on the beach,
With a home so warm and full of love no one could reach.
Then for no reason, on a soft warm day
You'll feel on your face that salty spray,
And you'll feel the lure of her drawing you
And back to her you'll go with a heart that's true,
Saying, "Oh! Damn, I know what the end will be,
For me it will be a longing and lonely life at sea".

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Lola Kysar

Lola Kysar

North Bend, Oregon, USA
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