239 Souls

Black water reaches up to
a starless sky.  The stench of 
bunga raya still stains the air.

A million eyes strain to find the
great white bird, but that which lies
beneath the horizon, is a secret to
be kept forever.

The cries of desperate souls fill
the empty night.

"The darkness has engulfed us."
They cry.  "Leaving us as ghosts
to dance upon this ebony tide."

Lifetimes are exchanged for numbers.
Mere minutes of backstory for the Movie
Of The Week.  Each lifetime worthy of 
3 1/2 stars.

Back home, families count the waves,
and curse the darkness.  For it is the
darkness, that has taken loved ones
away.

What was once visible, has been turned
into a shadow.