st elmo's fire -
* for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow *
he found her on the ledges, there
so lashed unto a mast ...
seaweed twined through raven hair
moony gaze now naught but stares
sweet blushing bosom frozen, bare
death's wan, pearly caste ...
all shimmering 'neath St. Elmo's Fire
he heard the shipwreck in the night
lamenting 'midst the gale ...
crashed to rocks with caps of white
torn beam-to-keel by stormy might
thund’rous echoes pealed its plight
to sing the siren's wail ...
all shimmering 'neath St. Elmo's Fire
he'd said goodbye just days before
a dream upon his lips ...
with plans to marry and much more
this bright, young lass he did adore
that hence lay broken on this shore
within death's icy grips ...
all shimmering 'neath St. Elmo's Fire
'twas strange to him this place allow
the sun such beautied light ...
while there, amidst a shattered bow
his dearest love, gone with their vow
how could that peaceful beauty, now
hold such a horrid sight ...
all shimmering 'neath St. Elmo's Fire?
Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, January 18, 2020?
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