The Ships Poem by Christine Natale

They are sailing today, away, away
And we bide on the shore in our grief
The sails billow wide with the tide, with the tide
And we cling to the dangerous reef

Our loved ones sail free on the welcoming sea
We stand all alone on the shore
They sail to the new world to follow their dreams
And we cry to the wind, “Nevermore”

Another ship sails toward our sea shanty town
To fill up with passengers new
No one can know ‘fore the gangplank comes down
If the list will be many or few

We watch from the roof as the white sails draw near
We canvas the broad widow’s peak
We carry our passports and tickets and gear
Set to board when our Captain will speak

The morning sun washes the sheets red as rose
The seagulls call plaintive and high
We run to the harbor in silver winged shoes
Ne’er stopping to bid a good-bye

Our time for departure has come, it has come
The wind lifts the salt to our face
We follow our hearts to our loved ones’ new home
Borne aloft by the winds of God’s Grace.