Dark and stormy moonless night

Sailing ship on homeward flight,

Pitching, rolling, decks awash

Sailor prays on midnight watch,

Sails all furled, masts a’creaking

Waves are smashing, throwing, heaving,

Out to Port a light appears

Welcoming, allaying fears,

Men are dancing, cheering, drinking

Soon be home they are thinking,

Sudden lurch sends them reeling

Ship is ripping, tearing, heeling,

Cruel rocks and wrecker’s light

Sent them to their death that night.

Jackie S Brooks
1960