*in The Captains Chair Poem by Kale Beaudry

Once, like a baby in
need of sleep, I rocked
on the wake of the sea;
the salty breeze hid among long
sleeves, the waves becoming my old
knees.

Once, like a starvin
dog with growly belly, I
smelled the ocean air;
the horizon fair from captains chair,
crag and crook form Neptunes
bear.

Once, like a hawk with
its eye to a hare, I
watched the kelp float past;
the fast ships first chance to outlast
the bold blue sky tossing diamonds on
glass.

Once, like a man with
no hope in his eyes, I
looked up at night to pray...
only to gaze a million lanterns play,
their beauty untouched by affliction
today.






Once, like a man with
hope in his eyes, I
sat in the captains chair;
and I rocked on the sea,
and I watched the nightsky,
and I breathed the last
of my ocean air.