The Australian Crawl ~ Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Was I just an observer on a ship
a ghost, once a seaman, before the mast
sick, nauseous, from the turbulence at sea

I was once a sailor, now just a blip

just an ephemeral moment in time
until I became beyond time, outcast
suddenly overboard, always queasy
thrown into darkness as a bucking horse

as cold and hopeless as a life of crime
no one saw what happened but I was gone

old cowboys never die, as tumbleweeds
become rolling thistles spreading seeds, pawn
sacrificed for the queen, in death she bleeds
enemy to my opponent, of course
remember, I was sick, but the captain
virtuous, full of kindness, bored on board
each day, nauseous with the world, sick of life
revealed his passion to play chess, plankton

order the observer to float, my back
never falling below the surface, floored

aspirate salt water and die, such strife

subtle and quick, serves a purpose, alive
how I helped on the ranch, and I learned black
in chess, always defends, rarely attacks
playing with my dad and older brother

a game of chess could last for days, while racks

garnished with mint chutney, made lamb other
honestly, than gyros, a Greek, I dive
objectively, under the ship, I slip
stern to bow to seek my quarters to sleep
tossed aside by the waves, with death I creep