St. Elmo’s Fire

Authors Note: This is the original version of St Elmo’s fire that I wrote in 2001-
Among my friends there is some arguments of whether this version is better, or my 2007 rewrite of it is better.
I would like your opinion. Wolf ,’’, ^@@^ ,’’,

St Elmo’s Fire (original version)

Beneath the sea lay mysteries of things, which are not told
Perhaps the beast of yesteryear in unreachable depths do roam
Yet this tale is not about the depths of sea, nor creatures that lay within
Tis a tale of disappearances, which do happen without end

Twenty men in storm locked waters within a fishing boat
Cower within their wooden shelters as unseen hand do grope
Their sails are battened and tethered against the storms great fury
Yet of the storm is not their terror, for these are men, sailors and sturdy

Every thing which lay about them is different and yet the same
Yet something within the heart of them certainly has now changed
For though now they lay in darkness of a black unnatural night
Mere minutes ago had been six bells in a day, which had dawned bright

Happily they had lain about with line and hook and net
Boisterous voices calling out as all their traps were set
The day was fresh as were the men, hoisting their sails on high
Enjoying the morning rituals as the waters whispered by

Yet the sea had other ideas, and had set a trap of It’s own
Within the triangle called Bermuda, where many strange things do roam
First the dead fish lifted whereon to float upon the water
The Sea then began to glow, as the sky grew ever darker

The sails boomed and filled with wind, where before had been only a breeze
Two men were then lost over board to graves within the deeps
The rest of the men groped for the sails as the mast began to bend
For if it snapped upon itself, then surely it would be the end

The Radioman sent calls for help, he was screaming frantically
Though sadly his cries they went unheeded, by any but the Sea
The motors of the ship rumbled up, with the sails now battened tight
Then roaring and spewing sparks and smoke, blew up and took another life

The rain screamed down in twisted knots blended in with ice
The men took shelter within the hold of the ship, a ship now filled with fright
They huddled now upon wooden planks, afraid of all things of metal
For things of metal now threw sparks, Hissing and spitting like a teakettle

Two men had heeded the captain not, refusing his order to remove watch and ring
They lay now upon the wooden planks, writhing in a death dance of agony
None dared to touch or help them now, lest they risk suffering their terrible fate
They looked now upon their dying comrades, with a mixture of pity, a pinch of hate

Where before there had been twenty-three, merely survived a scant eighteen
Sitting in a circle holding hands like children, and touching knee to knee
Singing songs they had learned as kids in church, and praying all silently
Songs they had once thought long forgotten in their lives upon the sea

Tears streamed down their weathered faces, as their masks of death slid into place
They now made peace with their maker, accepting their deaths with a pinch of grace
Hopes and dreams now abandoned, they settled their sins and began to wait
For the end of terror, the end of life, the final moment which would seal their fate

Until

A man screamed out yet not in pain, but with a deep seeded sound of elation
He danced around like a man possessed, by some kind of strange jubilation
“Captain,” he begged, “look yonder I say, look all, Tis St. Elmo’s Fire!”
Indeed he was right, for now in their sight; was the ship wrapped in streams of a pyre

Yes the Patron Saint of Sailors, had broken the gloom, and now hoisted he his colors
A thing rumored he does over ships he protects like a father or a brother
The Saint danced upon the mast, the rail, he circled around the metal staves
He danced to unheard music, as the sailors did dance, the dance of the brave

Colored streamers and colored spheres, singing, abounded throughout the ship
Embracing the battered surviving souls, as heartfelt thanks poured from their lips
The darkness shrank, dispelled and lightened, coalescing into a soft white mist
Which as it rose up from the water, formed into the semblance of a shaking fist

Encased in the beauty of St. Elmo’s fire, the ship was bourn now quickly away
With its cargo of eighteen sailors who still tell and swear to it to this day
Now you however, may not believe it, and truthfully, you, I do not blame
Yet five hardy sailors beneath my command, now reside in a watery grave

And I myself ,attend a church of choice, one gifted with a very high spire
Around my neck rests a medallion depicting,...of course...
St. Elmo ...and his Fire

Created by ANTHONY HOTOPP
@OriginalCywolf@yahoo.com
all rights reserved by ACH incorporated ach unpublished works 2001
Reprint by: Anthony Hotopp
All Rights Reserved: Copyright by ACH Inc.: Unpublished Works 2009 originalcywolf@hotmail.com originalcywolf2001@yahoo.com Also the following subsidiaries : knight_in_shining_karmaa enterprises ltd.: Hidie Pipes: Make Ready’s Inc.: Hidd-In Concepts: All divisions of: Ach Inc. and introducing:
,’’, ^@@^ ,’’,Wolf Productions Inc.: a new subsidiary of ACH Inc.