The Horizon
"When you look at the horizon, do you see the waves? Or do you see the sky?"
All right, all right! I hear ye, mate!
When yer sixty feet or more off the deck,
High in the riggin' and a gale's a'blowin' and
The ship be heeled over to a fine point and
The cold has turned the horses to iron bars and
The bos'un has ye dancin' a jig in the wind . . .
There ye'll be starin' straight into the face of God!
But, listen to what I have to say:
When yer sittin above board after a fine mess,
With a clean deck to yer backside and
A fresh wind coolin' off the fo'c'sle sweat and
Weather fittin' and proper for twelve knots and
All the doggies and their masters are up on the quarterdeck . . .
With the proper bearing, ye'll see Him there, too!
Stephen Sanders
©2010