Kapitan

To love a sailor is to hate the sea

Good, small, night,

I love you!

I live in, with nothing much,

The castle in my mind.

Warm, bright, Day,

Oft envied!

I dwell now,

A sidewalk made of our daydreams.

Cool, purple, dusk,

I am here!

I lay with you,

Nursing now under the vanishing clouds.

Blinding, red, dawn,

Such news for my sailor?

I run to him,

Departed too soon!

Fateful, dark, night,

I plead with you!

Let this news be false,

So I may rest now.

Scorching, blinding, Day,

Bring news!

Lead a message to me,

While I pace the pier.

Chilled, sinister, dusk,

Give me peace!

Allow us both to rest,

In safety, and with ease.

Red, red, dawn,

Know you no other color?

Why do the others return,

Why have you not brought my Sailor?

Dark, alone, sleep,

Had I really a choice?

Together we are

Now, in a small boat on our own sea.

Author's Note

Is it obvious what goes on in the poem? Does the timeline make sense? Does the reference to red at dawn make sense? I'm not sure if the saying that goes with it is local or widely known.