Mid-ocean in War-time
(For My Mother)
 
The fragile splendour of the level sea,
   The moon’s serene and silver-veiled face,
   Make of this vessel an enchanted place
Full of white mirth and golden sorcery.
Now, for a time, shall careless laughter be
   Blended with song, to lend song sweeter grace,
   And the old stars, in their unending race,
Shall heed and envy young humanity.
 
And yet to-night, a hundred leagues away,
   These waters blush a strange and awful red.
Before the moon, a cloud obscenely grey
   Rises from decks that crash with flying lead.
And these stars smile their immemorial way
   On waves that shroud a thousand newly dead!


Webpage © 2001 ELC
Lane Core Jr. (lane@elcore.net)
http://poetry.elcore.net/CatholicPoets/KilmerJ/KilmerJ27.html
Created April 1, 2001; not revised.