SS Salvation

The boy stood on the burning deck

Beneath his feet a sinking wreck

To starboard swung a lifeboat strong

The focus of a surging throng

His feet were hot, his mind was fleet

He’d have to sprint to claim his seat

Above he spied a dangling rope

The deck by now was up in smoke

He darted, feinted, leapt and clung

Then high above the flames he swung

The little boat was filling fast

As he connected with the mast!

His skull was cracked, his breath was gone

He slithered down amongst the throng

Bright constellations lit the sky

‘O Lord’ he prayed, ‘don’t let me die!’

The pulleys screamed as down they fell

Accompanied by a deathly knell

The lifeboat shuddered, creaked and moaned

Then sailed across the sea alone

… Salvation was their little boat

That sailed upon The Sea of Hope

Gabrielle Burt 2009 ©