Lonely as a lighthouse keeper

Lonely as a lighthouse keeper
-- Third generation keeper that is --
Witness many shipwrecks
Stand of stones and cairns that is
Hidden midst panes of light
‘midst uncertain sea life

When the sea froze
Was it safe to walk under?
Relying might we with
Boots as boats
Frozen toe and guts
Alone as a gusting wind
Nature christened Bad Temperament
Was it safe to christen
Other souls let go
Bodies mashed on wall
Of water at toe of tower
Turning in a bearing
Signal friendlies
Friendlier, friendliest peers
Neighbors looking into vapors
Looking at sea wave bombs
-- Some frightened; some calm --
And ask ‘What can we do?’

Where built a pier
To tie me froze boat
We sank down below water line
And towed it
Till we froze and float

Yet to yonder on
Dry patches pavement
Scant puddles left
Like toed nails appointment
Against weather’s addled temperament
On piers by soldiers’ wives
And children’s wails
Crying, bereft against torrents
And ignoble swales

Uncertainty
Eternal pathos prevail
Abundant trouble
To die, turn up one’s toes
A chap should be what he can do!
24 Jan 06