St. Elmo’s Fire
Let banshee wind,
pelting torrent,
and tumult of angry sea
rid your mind
of any toy-store cuddly.
This Elmo of mariner tales
would purpose prayer
if thought could be found twixt
efforts to tiebind-safe ship
against feral sirens of Poseidon’s lair
beckoning straining timbers and rigging to bottom rest.
Ghostly blue aura shrouds mist-veiled crew
chilling bones and rifting reality.
Dancing, almost palpable other-world spectres
shadow tie to earthly bodies.
Ears crackle as eyes belie fear
glancing mastward to peaks of flame;
candles for some hell-sent party.
The vessel burns strange; cold;
timbers unscathed,
only scorching deep inside storm-tossed souls of sailors
hopeful to live to tell tale
and find words to do it justice.
-Jerry Wendt 2013
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