A Small Ship

A small ship set sail Out on a troubled sea; Her crew were not selected, But came of necessity. Her captain's goal was a peaceful land; Her first mate's was the same, Yet each had charted different routs To reach their common aim. Unknowing, yet each hopeful, They tested out the wind; The raging sea struck at the ship E're the voyage did begin. The first mates heart grew fearful, Uncertain it could stand, The cost that loomed ahead Before, at last they, reached the land. The captain bravely closed his eyes To the danger of a wreck, And despised the fear in the first mate's cries At each wave that crossed the deck. Each ignored the danger as Their unity gave out; Each member of the crew set sight On a different goal and route. A pirate ship, disguised, came by- Sowed seeds of mutiny, So that each raging storm that passed Took tolls in casualty. The first mate's fear was crippling; The captain's pride was bold; Neither had an answer For the seas that filled the hold. There were no words of comfort As each sought to shift the blame, And the seas cried out in triumph As each wave sneered at their name The timbers now were weakened; The beams were cracked and worn; The main mast had been broken; The sails were rent and torn; The captain trusted in his strength; The crew were all but gone; The waves lapped at the crippled ship; The sea, too late, was calm. In vain they tried to pump the hold, As one small comforter Stood by an ailing first mate Whose plans were now unsure, Whose spirit had been broken, Whose heart could take no more, And as, at last, they sighted land, No strength to reach the shore; So each lowered separate life crafts, Tossed out upon the waves, For the sea had won the battle, And the ship could not be saved.