Flutters along, battered sheet in the wind
Tossed around by self-induced storm
Sleeps at night on wet pavement memories,
Broken glass horizons, cheap gutter dreams
Replaced good intention.

He never was what he says he is
Eyesore, heartache, drunken liar…
But he believes it.

Mortgaged his future for a ship in a bottle
A boat that couldn’t make port
Money ran out when a riptide came in
Wrote himself off with a smile.

Remembers battles lost more than those won,
Holds close pirates’ ghosts, long dead spies
Friends that keep him alive

His wife passed him by while sons rode along
He waved goodbye, they chose not see
Prefer to forget he sailed out on life
Late one April day
Chose hurricane course instead of lee anchor.