Dawn Poem by Tony Jennett

Nightwatch is over. Eyelids lighten with the lightening sky.
The misty haloes round the nav-lights fade to even grey;
Alight no longer on black water washed ashen by a day
Of mists and silence, dripping from spars and sails to lie
In puddles everywhere: corners, oilskin folds, last night's cup
Of cocao and sodden crumbs of ginger biscuits not cleared up

A death-like breath; holds sails at arms' extent not fills them
But kills the flog and slat of proper morning calm
To squeeze, not drive us forward with no chuckling psalm
From bow or transom; steerage-way, no more: chills phlegm
To apprehension, turns night-aches to sloth. The sun, unshone
Hides already high. I leave the morning watch to slumber on

When did I last work up the boat's dead reckoning? How apt!
Dead alright and reckoning for sure! Six sailing miles plus
Three-and-a-bit for tide and God knows what, to slyly bless
Our leeway. Oh for sun, and clear horizon nicely wrapped
Together to work the magic fix and give no tuppeny damn
For speculation. I'd give an arm to know just where I am.

Come sun! I've seen your watery disc. I know you're there
You've had your spell of Elysium round the other side
Of earth. Burn off the mist and smile a wide wide
Smile of morning-hailing welcome. Let me share
Your warmth with air and sea and land and laughing sky
And let your blinding light blot off my tearful eye.