Down In The Hold

The sponge
she wielded so well,
was full
of some other fools
sweat,
long before she
had a chance to wipe
his brow
with it, both cool
and it wet ..
But it was the least
she could do
under such difficult
circumstances ..
Given the promises
he made
and those that she
had kept ..
It was just one of
so many
unfortunate things
we all guessed ..
But nevertheless,
it was both
noted and welcome ..
Yet despite that
single act of kindness
he died the very
next day ..
Somewhere down
in the hold
up to his neck in
the dead
and the wounded
and likewise those
dying ..
If you so wish
ma’am, you may yet
find him
stowed somewhere,
deep down in the hold ..