The waves were boiling, the emerald waters foaming.
The sky was coal black, the salty winds flying and moaning.
A vessel foundered, an oaken beast of carven glory,
Its masts were by wind beat down and broken; its hull was smashed.
It had pierced itself on a rocky reef, against it waves crashed.
The ship was hopeless, the captain knew it would not last.
The whistle was blown, the passengers began to panic fast.
The hands all scrambled, as lower it sank in waters hoary;
Down they sent the lifeboats then on ropes; and they landed ready.
‘Women and children over first' came the unheeded call: the rush was far too heady!
All the people climbed in, cramming each boat in desperation.
They pushed and shoved forward, thrusting others back without hesitation.
There was no time to stall, another wave or two and there would be no ship at all!
A young mother pressed her way to the boat, in her hands her babe grasping,
She made it to the edge but her babe slipped, over she went distressfully gasping.
Fortunate was she, this boat being last and it held no more room after her
But she would rather her babe in her arms than escape the sea's murder.
She cried and called up to the ship as the boat pulled away,
‘My child! My child! Someone, bring him to me straightaway! '
But those poor souls left behind took no heed, but cursed the living,
They screamed and shouted to be let on, for they would soon be dying.
Just then a wave thundered and reared up on high, It loomed black in the darkened sky
It would come down in another moment and sunder that craft; and all would die,
But ere it fell a man who stood calmly by, his own wife in safe and in a raft
Who knew it would end, who knew he could either slide down to the craft,
Or heed the sad pleas and save the life of someone so dear to another.
As lightening forked and the lifeboat began to leave, the man took the babe up in his hands,
And beneath the crushing wave's shadow, he dared to hope that the babe would land.
He flung the babe down, and the men caught it up fast,
The child its mother found, she held him again and never lost him at last.
Because of the brave love of a nameless soul, who had loved another life,
A life he never had known, the babe lived on a full and happy life.
Where the sun was bright and the sea was far away,
And his mother loved him to her last and dying day.
He lived because one man did not, one whom the waves drowned.
When the waves covered and broke the ship, he was there when it went down.
Beautiful! ! ! What a wonderful poem! Well written Timber! You have illustrated selflessness with great skill and engaged in an epic story's telling! : )
You are this tremendously talented writer and I look forward to reading more! ..
I hope there was some one with such a kind heart on the Titanic... But thinking optimistically I hope there was many! ..
Praise God Praise God for that nameless soul! .. Heaven embraced a beautiful soul! ..
Because of the brave love of a nameless soul, who had loved another life.. I felt my heart beat with ever line! ..
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
A great depiction of a shipwreck and kindness. Very touching and inspiring write.