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.
Parva Gradus 