THE SANDMAN

          THE SANDMAN                         TIM WILLIAMS         DEC. 2014

CROSS LEGGED THE SANDMAN SITS
HIS LONG WHITE BEARD SWEEPS THE SHORE
WHERE HE COUNTS THE GRAINS OF SAND WITH COLD GREY
EYE'S, FIXED ON THE HORIZON, WHEN QUESTIONED WHY ?
HE REPLY'S " I'M WAITING FOR THE NORTH WIND",
" SHE ALWAYS BLOWS ME ILL", " AND TRIES MY RESOLVE",
" MY INNER STRENGTH", " MY DETERMINATION",
CROSS LEGGED THE SANDMAN SIT'S, CROSS LEGGED AND STARING.

THE HORIZON LINE IS BROKEN BY A CARGO SHIP,
SHE IS IDENTIFIED FOR WHAT SHE IS BY TRAINED LOCAL EYE'S.
THE VILLAGERS KNOW FRENCH FINERY BY HOW SHE LIES IN THE WATER,
SILKS, WINE , TOBACCO, SILVER AND DREAMS.... LIE IN HER HOLD,
THERE FOR THE TAKING AT FALL OF DARKNESS,
WHEN THE TRICK LAMP SWAYS AND THE TRICK LAMP DANCES,
THE MACABRE DANCE OF DEATH , DROWNING AND DESTRUCTION,
HIGH REWARD FOR ALL INVOLVED, HIGH REWARD INDEED, BUT ALWAYS A PRICE TO PAY.

THE LANDLORD AT " THE SMOKIN' DOG" CALLS TIME ON LIFE ITSELF,
AND THE OLD SHIPS BELL ECHOES IN EVEN THE DEAFEST EARS,
A PART OF THE ANCIENT GRAVEYARD ROLLS ONTO IT'S OTHER SIDE AND SIGHS,
THE FAMILIES WHO DRAG OUT FRENCH ARTIFACTS FOR VISITING
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW VALUATIONS, STILL FIND IT HARD TO SLEEP,
WHEN THE WIND COMES FROM THE NORTH AND DANCING LIGHTS
ARE SEEN AT NIGHT NEAR THE ROCKS ON THE ESTUARY SHORE,
AND ANCIENT ECHOES OF SCREAMS AND DEVASTATION.

BUT CAN THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS, FATHERS, FATHER AND BEYOND,
BE RAINED DOWN ON THOSE, FROM THE SANDMAN THROUGH
THE WRECKERS TO TODAY, "GREED IS A MIGHTY FUEL",
SAY'S THE SANDMAN CROSS LEGGED ON THE ESTUARY SHORE
STARING AT THE HORIZON WAITING FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER TO BEGIN.