Breath -- Shallow
Fear -- Constricting
Neck as Sail Rope
Caught in a Gale
Screaming Tight
Burning Knots
Billow on Fire
The Hot Blast
Unseen Tongues
Scorching from Afar

Planks -- Creak
Strain -- Palpable
Water Rising
over stone feet
and the lady of bow
washes her hair
in the bitter salt

Across the firmament
arcs our blazing fire
mercy be gone
as the foolish collapse
Hands knuckled gold
Hearts sea-bottom cold
Eyes blind to who
is friend
and who is foe

Into the storm
Into the breech
stench be damn
I say to each
For the hell we face
will not spare the lace
whip cracking in pace
scruple ye not thy base

Take my arm
Take my leg
What you desire
What you seek
Is as the wind
Is as a child's laughter
So have your lust
turning stone to dust
as tears turn to rust
what should have never bust

I would cuss
would I could I so
muscle as string
twisted tight
upon the haunch
upon the hide
pound of flesh
priced in a window
reflecting little eyes
that know no better