Tall Tales, Telltales

now and again youll remember the sound

of the sails waving helpless

the cables wrapping one another into knots so strong

youre lost at once if not tossed into the drink and lost beneath

a substance so dark yet elementary

four winds converge upon a point where your compass

spirals round in useless motions mocking everything

while bilge collects

your cupped hands attempt to shovel out the last few inches

and you plead with the gods but they send you no sign

hold on sailor, hold on brother

steady the vessel

tall tales of ghosts at sail

they spend the afterlife

in futile calculation, dead reckoning

telltales confuse the sails, direction is lost

the winds will spiral round a listless tapestry

and youre left all alone under the shine of the moon

hold on sailor, tighten the cables

steady the vessel

its a good life if you dont weaken

hold on, hold on