In the Embrace of the Sea
By: Allie Cole
The first mate sighed as he dreamed of love
The twinkling stars shinned on the sea
He envisaged her in wedding dress,
But it was never meant to be.
For, she, who he loved was faraway
Upon the distant shores
But, hadn't she said to him, long ago
"My love, I will always be yours?"
But, still he despaired
Of ever again seeing his dear Isabelle
On the land was where she stood
And there is heart did dwell.
Then a lad up from down below
The ship's cargo hold
And then the lad eye met his eye
In a manner oh so bold.
And, his breath came in a gasp
And his was heart was sure to tell
There stood, upon the deck
His lovely Isabelle
Her hair was bound and masked was her form
But, still he could observe
In that angelic face
The cold settings of her nerve
"Isabelle," he whispered
"Please say you go unfound
For if you are discovered,
You will most certainly be drowned."
Her lips went out in pout
And her exquisite brow was knit
"But, I could not live without you
And let my soul be split!"
And, how could he deny her?
When he felt the same?
For, she was with him again
And his heart was set aflame
And they embraced, and did not bother to see
That the rest of the crew saw the lovers
And beheld Isabelle as a woman
And their secret was uncovered
And, Isabelle was to be thrown overboard
And taken prisoner by the waves
But, he refused to lose her
The sea would be both of their graves
Isabelle pleaded that he should stay
And she would watch him from above
"No," he declared, "If I am to die,
Then at least it will be for love!"
And, they seized hands
And leapt into the sea's embrace,
And the last image he ever perceived
Was of Isabelle's darling face.