It stands
Straight and tall
And strong,
Its light projecting
Its promise of safety
And of hope
Not just seaward
Toward countless
Sailors,
But also inland
To those who seek
Comfort in manmade
Symbols of faith.
For decades,
Perhaps centuries,
It has guided
Many a seafarer
Safely home
And delighted
As many
Land lovers
Who are charmed
By its romanticism.
But some are in danger
Of destruction,
A target for
A wrecking ball,
And I, for one, pray
For a blanket reprieve
To spare and save
These magnificent sentinels
That have protected us
From all life’s
Dangerous shoals.