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The Dinghy

by WildWithWords




Into the shimmering shallow waters bobs her barnacled hull
O’er glimmering sand where silvery mullet shoals dart
Foundering, she sways upon the swell…. prow aground on the sand
Unmanned her empty oarlocks, and oh so heavy of heart.


Across the miles she’d wandered held captive on a rising tide
Borne at the whim of a moon who’d watched from afar
Filled with an ever-deepening grief, wanting only to tell her tale
Of a tragedy wrought far out beyond the great bar.


Upon the sands a solitary lad - pole and basket in hand
Eyeing that lonely beached dinghy so barren of life
No rower, nor outward sign of one, greets his innocent gaze
No clothing, valuables nor obvious signs of strife.


On closer inspection a single oar lay smashed within the boat
Blade crushed and splintered beyond any hope of repair
But rounding the bow that naïve lad stops still dead in his tracks
Shaking in open-mouthed terror at what he sees there.


Inches below the rail of the boat and down to the waterline
A curved arc of terrible punctures near three feet wide
But nailed to the boards by ancient tooth the severed hand of a man
Saw the tenderest of hearts sink to his knees as he cried.


The sea’s an unforgiving world of death, destruction and pain
And Fate lies beyond the great bar for those who roam
Though reluctant witness, the dinghy has done all we asked of her
When, despite her ordeal, she brought news of a tragedy home.