TO BUTCH

He stayed but briefly

On this wretched sea

Of life.

And set a course

That ever drew his craft

Into the gales.

But once the course was set

He could not seem

To bring the bark about.

Though valiantly

He fought the tiller

And the sails.

What then shall be

The fate of this

Poor sailor lad?

Have wind and wave

At last prevailed

O Master of the Sea?

Not so! For once he bade me

Come into that struggling

Craft with him.

And there I stayed

Until he reached the port

With Me.

David Morsey

(January 23, 1975)