PAPERBOAT: AN ALLEGORY



PAPERBOAT
By Jezreel Madsa



Heavy were the 
sweats and sighs
of the roughest wind
the paperboat paddles
the waves of time

how fair the night watcheth
the ebbs and flows
by mustard faith
the lonely vessel saileth


how astonished the gaze
of the stars that blinketh not;
felt were the jingles of the moon
hushed in silver light

that night that night-- that very night!
alas, the storm cometh in horrendous sight! 

row harder and deeper!
plunge it half
ne'er surrender
the canoe of love
the watered layer
kept breaking weaker and poorer 

 ocean tears why'd me 
sinkest and drown?
all of mine pieces are
parting me down.

'til the summer days betide
and all the aching waves subside
the wet-papered boat
nay in blue water float . . .

SOON in drier land
the hopeful keel will
yonder kiss the ground.

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