Twirling and swirling the rogue waves gathered Like a funnel, they whirled. into a majestic wind A Typhoon! It rides on vicious waves like a horse. It thunders like the roar of a thousand lions. The seafarers sail as sheep to the slaughter. Trapped between the deep blue sea and a furious, murderous monster Their treasures Flew first and their water flasks flew next. with no remedies for their thirst. Life was hell at its best. The king of waves rides high. His fury touches the sky. His mighty feet, a force to see, march through the sea. The typhoon’s eyes widen. It spots a scrawny ship, beneath the waves so deep. The monster lashed its whip. to thrash the little insolent ship The seamen screamed Their ship’s hull keeled. It’s mast-clipped, and it’s Ballast slipped The ship weighs anchor The typhoon lashed again. Chipping splinters off the keel The keel drank from the sea. Tipping the rudders into a stupor The ship dived. like a rock plunging into an abyss The typhoon suckers up the air. round and round their ship twirled. closer and closer to the eyes of the typhoon, All odds are stacked against hope. They saw their lives winding down the slope. A mariner slowly sings Rod Stewart’s “Sailing Song” We are sailing. We are sailing. Home again, ‘cross the sea We are sailing on stormy waters. To be near you is to be free. Courage kissed the captain. He remembers a captain’s honour Save your ship at all costs. Or take a bow, hands in hand. into depths unknown He picks up a little bowl. To scoop out a little water He began plugging little leaks. with broken little splinters. He scooped out more water. and he threw out more craters. The lighter they float, The lighter their trouble Only one thing matters. Survival. He climbed down the keel. He fixed the rudders And raised the mast The Mariner’s song faded. The captain’s anthem rose: We will save the boat. And sail home.