The Cargo

By Cliff Lake

 

The Cargo

 

The captains’ burden plagued him,

Though much silver had crossed the palm,

A cargo unspoke betrayed him,

Yet they must be sailing on.

 

His thought oft turned to that below,

And heroic rescue schemes.

But captain was his duty so,

He turned away from these dreams.

 

But nightly did his mission need,

To serve in obligation,

For more than pay must he now heed,

Or be doomed to his damnation.

 

For in the secret hold below,

A temptation far too sweet.

And in her eyes her sorrow too,

That this way they should meet.

 

For she was of the royal sort,

And promised to a king.

And must be borne to foreign court,

To stave off war’s red sting.

 

But here they’d found on open sea,

Their hearts would speak to each.

But promises made for the peace:

A gulf too far to breach.

 

The captain’s burden flayed him,

He hoped the wind may die,

Just one more day of sailing,

And gaze in her loving eye.

 

The harbor lies before them,

And with it journey’s end.

Royal meeting on the shore then,

But he will not attend.

 

Cliff Lake 4/25/2024

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

Location: Wichita, KS, USA

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