Charging blindly through a mess

of scallops in the sea

a tall bedraggled gentleman

attempts to talk to me.

The waters of the ocean gray

surrounding startled sails

his ship is lost forever more

‘midst ghostly crewmen’s wails.

His speech is one I’ll not forget

nor ever understand

the bubbles leave his frigid lips

the seaweed gloves his hand.

“Avast, anon!” he says at once –

“A periwinkle plumber!

“Enchanted sheiks of shallow shores,

“an edifying summer.

“The bell has rung,” the specter says,

“the sheep have come to pasture.

“Forget your shirt, forget your shoes,

“let menace be your master!”

Then off he goes, a phantom friend

who knows what he will do?

and I sit back, debate his fate –

a traveler in the blue.