exercise #3 - ghazal

Miwa Yanagi's "Erendira" from her series "fairytale" (permission pending)

He holds the lantern on that bounding ship

He rests vigilant on that bounding ship

To light the way of pilgrims in the gloam

And sinners that fall on that bounding ship

Where sink and break the rotting planks of oak

As drunken and bold on that bounding ship

Men do wend their way to her chamber bed

To pay with gold coin on that bounding ship

For her lingering kiss her fingers bled

Her long flowing back on that bounding ship

For when their seed breaks forth in foaming spray

It is thrice as strong on that bounding ship

The lamp wildly sways with maddening winds

Yet he stands solid on that bounding ship

Collects the coin and pockets his chagrin

For his orphaned wife on that bounding ship

Who lays childless under heavy flow of

Men and sour breath on that bounding ship

Sold for a dollar a dinner of whale

Laura as witness on that bounding ship