Big Breakers Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

Big Breakers.
Frothing, the colour of spring leaf, a mountain top of ocean
intent on drowning you it is not like crossing a road and just
have a time to jump clear of a car.
No, you are totally helpless and your salvation is down to
luck not maritime ability. The beast has gone mad something
we said down in the mess-hall when playing card?
Not to forget the good moment when the sea is flattening out
flecked by light blue. Our promises of not drink and smoke
and to be kind to our mothers vanes.
There is something mesmerizing about it, will the ship be able
to shudder and get up from the tons of water? Are we ghosts
from a past that never was?
I Kingston we drank rum & coke and never spoke about our
inner thoughts, we had survived and lived in the moment.
But what can you expect of a simple seaman when landlubbers
can't even remember last year's war.