The Tall Ships Burn by Deborah Guzzi

Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Night, by J. M. W. Turner, 1835.

Burnished gold, aged bronze, patinaed by the firelight,
singed by sullen Sol, not stayed by Poseidon’s hand-
aflame, aflame, the tall ships burn; see the masts ignite.
 
Uncontrite, the skies pour ash blackening the night.
as fire light lends a smoky pall to both sea and land,
burnished gold, aged bronze, patinaed by the firelight.
 
The blaze consumes breath and man, death maybe their plight,
still- all hands come to the Captains call his to command.
Aflame, aflame, the tall ships burn, see the masts ignite.
 
Hell’s inferno draws near on this plutonian night.
A foul wind blows, fire roars, so the flames are fanned,
burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight.
 
Without their ship, the crew were lost; debtors alight.
They ignite like scarecrows shriven by the brand;
aflame, aflame, the tall ships burn, see their masts ignite.
 
Burning cinders catch the dock; workers run in fright,
the smell of flesh fills the wharf; the crew must disband.
Burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight,
aflame, aflame, the tall ship burns, see the masts ignite.

Deborah Guzzi

Deborah Guzzi is a healing facilitator specializing in Shiatsu and Reiki. She writes for Massage and Aromatherapy publications. She travels the world seeking writing inspiration. She has walked the Great Wall of China and visited Nepal (during the civil war), Japan, Egypt (two weeks before “The Arab Spring”), Peru, and France (during December’s terrorist attacks).
 
Her poetry appears in Magazines: here/there: poetry in the UK, Existere - Journal of Arts and Literature in Canada, Tincture in Australia, Cha: Asian Literary Review, Hong Kong, China, Eunoia in Singapore, Latchkey Tales in New Zealand, Vine Leaves Literary Journal in Greece, mgv2>publishing in France, RedLeaf Poetry, India and Travel by the Book, Ribbons: Tanka Society of America Journal, Sounding Review, Kyso Flash, The Aurorean, Crack the Spine Literary Magazine, Liquid Imagination, Poetry Quarterly, Page & Spine and others in the USA. Her new book The Hurricane is available now through Prolific Press.