New Year

As darkness falls
light yet spreads
from windows lit
by warmth within

As cold winds howl
and dark rains lash
the huddled houses
round the shore

Expectation grows
past the midnight hour
they're safe now
home soon

She bucked on the waves
guided by distant lights
obscured by spray whipped
by the winter gale

Her guidance awry
her crew seeing blind
her sailors powerless
to save her from certain doom

The light obscured
the prism darkened
the ancient reef
lay in her path

The rockets mistaken
the cries unheard
the waves took nearly all
on board

A cold morning broke
windless and calm
leaving them scattered
on eastern shores

When New Year comes
the island mourns
those promised to come
on the Iolaire

No comments:

Post a Comment