Titanic
I Launch
1912 at springtime,
Southampton the stage,
A crowd had flocked, one vessel docked that symbolised the age.
Built to outclass rivals
And to cruise and shine
For the nation, this creation of the White Star Line.
Sweat and toil produced her,
Craftwork had prevailed
Every minute and within it, treasures were unveiled.
Ornamental staircase,
Chandeliers that glared,
Lovely channels on wood panels, no expense was spared.
Problems were considered
Quite unthinkable,
Messianic and titanic, so unsinkable.
Passengers were ready,
How unreal things seemed,
On the quay there in the sea air maiden voyagers dreamed.
Engines activated
As she sailed away,
Pistons heaving, proudly leaving for the USA.
What a special feeling
Waving them farewell,
Goodbye Blighty from the mighty floating sentinel.
II Collision
Captain Smith gave orders,
Coal propelled the force,
All-surpassing, miles were passing steady and on course.
Night time, mid-Atlantic,
Here the vast ship led,
Unaware fate had prepared great danger up ahead.
One iceberg approaching
In the pitch black void,
From disaster, steering faster, hoping to avoid.
Then the starboard's metal
Suffered injury,
Manufactured yet it fractured, letting in the sea.
Lifeboats short in number,
Confidence ensured
More weren't needed, but when heeded panic quickly soared.
Man's inherent folly
Progress always shows,
Sinking slowly, nothing holy saved the ones who froze.
Like a scene from legend,
Terrible the roar,
Powers ended, she descended to the ocean floor.
III Today
Rust corrodes hard iron,
Microbes eat the past,
Years of time created grime, her splendour couldn't last.
Though the wreck is silent
Whispers still remain;
Sometimes sound flows all around, a beautiful refrain.
If the band are playing
Spirits come to waltz,
They sigh or weep inside the deep seabed of their own thoughts.
©