Sailor and Nymph

By Cliff Lake

 

Sailor and Nymph

 

A sailing man set out the world to explore,

Under his own banner and truly free.

There upon an unknown shore,

He saw a nymph dance beside the Sea.

 

Possessed she unearthly grace and daring eyes,

She swayed and moved to unheard chord.

The sailor by nymph mesmerized

Invited her to come aboard.

 

His banners high, they caught the breeze,

Together they now sailed the seas.

The nymph dancing as she pleased,

The sailor free to take his ease.

 

On the deck of sailor’s boat,

The nymph danced morn and afternoon,

Above the deck she seemed to float,

A dance she danced to call the moon.

 

But soon in day she seemed to pine,

Dancing melancholy and forlorn.

Paling ‘neath the bright sun’s shine.

But nightly exuberant, dancing ‘til morn.

 

His ship’s banner caught the light,

Light that caused the nymph to swoon,

But she would brighten in the night,

And she danced best before the moon.

 

Sailor sought to return her to her lagoon,

This wasting he did not foresee.

But she slipped from him to chase the moon

Now she dances on the Sea.

 

He sought her long, he sought her well,

A loss that he sought to plea.

But though he labored to quit her spell,

He searches still upon the Sea.

 

His banners now forever furled,

He sails the darkened Sea.

Light has gone out from his world,

His darkness now shall ever be.

 

Cliff Lake 12/15/2024

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

Location: Wichita, KS, USA

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