Quadragesimus Septimus Gradus

Boards soaked black

Ropes soaked russet

Barrels rattle.

Stubborn lantern casting

Red orange flicker

Over dark deck.

No horizon

No direction

Only sapphire, teal.

Spiralling colors

Melding images

Waves, clouds.

Vast waves flow

Like serpents slither

Cascading foam, churning clouds.

Leather boots strapped

Strong legs planted

Black coat whipping.

Waves plant water beads

From rogue spray on 

Skin sapped white. 

Ears consume raging wind

Eyes scavenge faltering light

Nose inhales swathing salt.

Clothing drenched

Heart slow

Body still.

Skin dripping

Beard fluttering

Eyes peering.

Rain showering

Water splitting

Cyst forming.

Disruption growing

Funnel swirling

Cone deepening.

Abyssal vacuum scarcely

Visible within boiling

Ocean canvas.

Centric sheet rises

Rushing white streaks,

Blotting perception.

Clear vision unscathed

By titanic distance

Counted to immensity.

Armored neck

Arching ascent

Veil hides scales.

Water flows

For minutes

Toward waves.

Final drops roll

Over scaled snout

As eyelids peel back.

Stark blue irises

Bright as stars

Strike, unsettle, balance.

Crowned head continues rising

Frills stretch, consuming sight

Strong chest emerges.

Midnight scales gleam indigo

Water beads cling tight

Else steam into night.

The Ocean

Stands revealed

Before man.

Eyes meet

Body tense

But still.

Beyond measure

Above surface

Below, unimaginable.

Petrified, stubborn.

Awed, flippant.

Adoring, offended.

White lips whispering

Slate ears hearing

Accepting protests.

Maw splits open

Sword teeth shine

Rich, somber voice.

Hair rises.

Wipe arms.

Can not relent.

Heart convulses.

Breath quickens.

Sweat beads.

Wrath?

Is that, is that wrath?

Or,

Sadness?

Is that, is that sadness?

Time for mercy expired.

Due wage has arrived.

Act!

Vain.

No time.

The Ocean

Surges

Snatches.

Scales recede

Into swirling sea.

Cut the surface

Without interrupting.

Stubborn lantern

Casting red

Orange light.

Russet ropes.

Black boards.

Rattling barrels.