Shanty (An Ornament)

Over the 'wine-
dark' sea salt-whelmed
we rode; in white
foam steeped we slept.

Silver the sleek-
backed dolphins leapt
& dipped when loured
the sky's egg, dawn-

cracked. Wind-whipped froth
spat cold, splattered
bulwark & beam-
end, brimmed scuppers.

Adroit all hands
abaft, astern.

Trim-sailed we sought
palm-piked islands
& round-lobed brown
loves: horn-bosomed,
eyes obsidian.

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