by H Brown

Created on: November 17, 2010

"Zaxxon Tak"

all of the faces have vacated

from the hearth to parts unknown

the smoke harpies have dissipated

the chimney no longer moans

somewhere out there there's a ship adrift

seawater filling in quite quick

but here its nothing but timid waves

and nimble insurance tricks

their transponder on my mantlepiece

more than just a souvenir

the only thing you can take away

from a ship filled with traitors

I've a chestful of satisfaction

and I breathe quite easily

stopping revolution begins with

disposing of measelies

reporters chase smoke in the yards

tip-offs about brittle slag

its not even where that ship was built

but mouths don't move under gags

both of my eyes are seeing forward

let symphonies play again

I see no huddling legless forms

or hear talk of just amends

cigar cutting with Merchant Marines

its all moth balls and starched cloth

laudanumed widows and helpless waifs

hugging the walls like tree sloths

wax Christ-like and pass around the hat

another toast to the Tak

I bob my head like everything's fine

watch smoke waft through ceiling cracks

it isn't even midnight before

the first "survivor" slomps in

prompted by the crooked voices of

too many vodkas and gins

sea dogs bet on the number of these

they've seen all that can be seen

not since the last one went down

have there been so many one-man schemes

I'd prepared for such an occurrance

a stevedore at every door

no more relaxed a man stood sentry

they were all propped up on oars

they mingled with sleeping children held

officers now vultures all

but I don't see a bit of that stuff

no one home when conscience calls

the ghosts of the Sea were news to me

but I didn't look at them

they were mere vapors not believed-in

amid the champagne flute stems

drifting off to a new tomorrow

where apathy falls like rain

press-gangs await my permissive wave

and doth such proud folk defames

I fret not the smoke of rebellion

my will carries on like Heck

all of those in opposition will

surely hang by broken necks

candles distributed free of charge

I wear a forever-smile

and hand out seawater-soaked matches

watch them worthless their whiles

brought my foot down on some anarchists

left a smear of baby-drool

hardly a mark on writhing masses

who congregate ships of fools

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