Water Rat

Row on Boatswain! Silently she sails.
We must catch up on the morrow
Let not the sea set in the sun, not in vain,
Not like this. So gentle, so dark! Let her
Unsheathe your silver dagger and pierce my heart.

See how sweat slips down her slender taper
When beads of dew, write poetry on paper
Sail on, don’t speak, ignore this new horizon
My boat is on fire; my heart set on poison.
Now listen to the wind ring gently with each row
Let it sing of His story as quietly we go

His daughter is a soldier and he holds her to his heart
Treats her to a symphony of a failing upstart
His heart is her war drum; it puts her to sleep
Without this lullaby of bloodshed
She would wake up and weep.

While waves crash and sear,
And all the stars disappear
Before the sun burns the night sky
Or we are caught and turned back
Right now! Right here!
Listen!

Row on Boatswain!
Silently she sails.
With each beat of the drum
She knows that it fails.

Note for Those who Prefer to Strip: The Boatswain doesn't usually row the boat but there's no law that says he can't!