401 Readings

whaler’s lament

the tides of the ocean
had been spent for the day

we found the broken bones
of birds and letters
of long dead sailors in rum bottles

they had been freed upon the waves
long before our births

we could only assume
that they were the last prayers
of desperate men doomed
on a sinking whaler 
bound for port in nantucket

but we had no proof
so we just believed
and left it at that

we turned instead
to gathering sand dollars
for our unborn daughter’s dowry
in the hopes that her husband
would be wild haired and kind

we packed them gently
in red envelopes
sealed them softly
signing each one

-all our love
you mother and father.
Posted 02/12/12
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