eric sundin

Piercing, plaintive
shrieks of lone seagulls
faint, complaintive
by eerie earfuls

Beneath graphite clouds
on fierce waves metal grey
we’re tightening shrouds
while drenched in lashing spray

Rolling, pitching we’re pinned
on our ship crusty
drifting sideways, downwind
in gale bursts gusty

With hollow hope, we wail
hearts pounding, bones chill
frantically we bail
while bilges still fill

We’re crossing our mental Atlantic
getting worn out by pumping frantic

+)
-Atlantics = here: our own stormy personal mental struggles
-bail = pump out, i.e. removing water
-shrouds = (nautical) a number of taut ropes or wires

edited 07/27/2026 1345