The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch’s oils,

Burnt green, and blue and white.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ‘The Rime of the Ancient

Mariner’

Alone, alone I did survive,

As the ship sank into the sea, Like lead it fell, I was alive, But alone as life can be.

On raft I floundered catching breath,

And vomiting salty wet blood, Waves climbing high, threatening death, Under the star dodged moon beloved. About, about, the keel come out, About, about, in reel or rout.

And from the sky the keel come out,

As I released deathly moan’s sigh, Circumventing it came about, Anchoring frostily close by.

There on the ship sat Life in Death,

Throwing seven mariner’s dice,

Lapsing unconscious, baiting breath, I cursed her with my wicked eyes. On the sea sweet snakes took their flight, The death-fires danced at night.

Ice cracked and growled, ‘I’ve won,’ said she,

And whistled thrice. The depths did stir, Boards heaved and she rose from the sea, And I cursed and blessed in a blur.

Doldrums stilled; magnificent ship,

Reborn by Life in Death’s winning, Water, water from sky to sip, Desperate prayers atone sinning. Around the ship the water boils, The water, like a witch’s oils.

As waves progress and tear the float,

I climb aboard with renewed hope, Four times fifty men man the boat, Lifeless eyes devoid of all hope.

Cherubs wielding their dead bodies,

Driving headlong back to my home, Cursed to tell my nightmare stories, Gifting others; chance to atone. And in mine eyes liveth the sea sprite, Burnt green, and blue and white.