-- My Ship of State --

John Herlihy

My ship of state doth ply through turgid waters,

Across a vast, open sea.

Parchment as cracked foil in silver skyward waters,

Ancient sails on a primordial sea.

My ship of state doth ply through placid waters,

Across a shining glass sea.

Heaven’s peace reflected upon earth’s waters,

Motionless calm in my heart’s sea.

My ship of state doth ply thru surging waters,

Tidal urges of ebb and flow.

The law of opposites reflected in these restless waters,

My active mind has come to know.

My ship of state doth ply thru misty waters,

Lost in a cloudy field of void.

Adrift and alone in those eerie, solitary waters,

Whose dangerous shoals we must avoid.

My ship of state doth ply thru darkened waters,

Where moonlight casts its spell.

Drifting toward a ghostly swamp of backwaters,

Whose intent no one can tell.

My ship of state doth ply thru dangerous waters,

Whose challenge brings to bear.

Of all that has ever happened and will happen,

From humanity fate will never spare.

My ship doth ply through daylight waters,

On a clear, sky-blue sea.

A crisp wind stirs wavelets across the waters,

That sparkle of life and light and mystery.

My ship doth ply thru serene waters,

On a white-light, angelic sea.

No horizon or shore beyond the headwaters,

Lifted on the sweep of infinity.

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(c) John Herlihy 20 May 2019