Gulls sweep gracefully over the wreckage
dredged in deep scars on the wet sand
torn remains of a beautiful ship
ripped asunder by giant ocean waves

seaweed twisted, tangled in all the mast
holes gashed and mangled in the stern
residues of salt from the briny sea
settled on iron, turning a burnt orange

lifeboats are just floating out to sea
not a person was in them, not even me
flapping of canvas on the breeze
stiff from the water, no sound but the sea!

4/16/94