Phantom Ship: Parts I and II

Part I

*From Her Perspective*

She saw his ship sail in from sea
slowly drifting to the harbor pier
he'd been gone for what felt like forever
but finally, he'd soon be here

She waited in anticipation
time and distance had been much too long
today was the day she'd hold him in her arms
and her longing would soon be gone

She could see the mast through the mist
as it stood high above lingering clouds
it appeared to suddenly stop in time
she felt her heart beginning to pound

She ran to the beach to be that much closer
to the lover she yearned to touch
if wishing could make that ship move faster
then her thoughts would do just such

A tear began to trickle down
in her heart she feared something wrong
a premonition of something dire
for time was standing still too long

A closer look, through misty tears
her mind, in a state of confusion
the ship that took her lover to sea
returning in a cloud of illusion

It appeared to her out of the mist
and was retreating by the same
she knew her lover would not be back
clutching her heart, could she stand the pain?

Time after time, it would oft appear
a phantom ship in the harbor, calm
and for all those sailors lost at sea
unaware, they can never again come home

She could not endure this phantom sight
to continue reliving that fateful day
no longer would she be a seaman's lady
far from the memories, she moved away

Part II

*From His Perspective*

He looked out, from onboard the ship
hoping and praying that she'd be there
he had thought of her every single day
whilst away, on the clipper, 'Ocean Air'

Gone for many months, a life at sea
braving treacherous waves and storms
trading goods with many foreign lands
but at last, he would soon be home

He thought of her and nothing else
bringing home trinkets and this time, a ring
he would ask her for her hand in marriage
and give up this life of constant sailing

With scope in hand, he espied the shore
and spotted her running to the beach
it won't be long, she'll be in his arms
and for her hand, he would soon beseech

Just then, her vision began to fade
his heart sank as he feared the worst
what illusion was this that she'd disappear
the ship, now encompassed by a mist

Soon his harbor home was out of sight
yet another storm came rolling in
all hands on deck, they did their best
manned the moorings to keep from sinking

But they'd done this many times before
it's second nature when your life is the sea
they'd bring the clipper out of the storm
and return again, to the harbor's safety

And sure enough, the winds did calm
the clipper and men safe, yet once again
but the storm had pushed them back out to sea
losing time, they would sail back in

This time he did not see his love
waiting for him upon the sandy shore
and something else, he'd never realize
they'd not be coming home anymore