Scab II

I walked to a place of nothing but sinking

and more sinking, and looked to the part of the ocean

where there- besides bones- was a smattering of ships,

and thought how each was red but laced with black connotation,

and each had a name I couldn’t remember, but then, after

pondering, did. And giving no regard to the bones that, in the sun,

give protection no more, I pulled what ships I could to

the coast and stacked them high in an open field,

and sparked a flame that didn’t light immediately-

the branch was damp- and then, aided by the breeze,

grew to an intensity so bright the ocean itself, together

with the bones floating on it, seemed to scorch.

I gazed on as every ship submitted to the fire:

John and Anthony, and, regretfully, the one branded with your name.