This poem was written to describe/honor a boat-shaped wooden sculpture on which a town was built.

Here’s humanity chucked on that tub
Figure the fuss in the ship’s hold
Roaming ‘round the deck, helm is hell for holding
How come that outland ship ain’t capsizing?

They ****** up their toll of ****** *****
Thrown out, left behind, they’re coping with that schism
Roving ‘round Ocean blue between two small isthmus
Grinning like they used to ain’t gonna be easy fun.

Here’s humanity beating it to starboard
If they had behaved themselves, possibly
God  almighty wouldn’t have batted an eye
Zealous lots in exile on that ****** city-boat

They built up  walls ‘gainst their bitter heartbreaks
Alleys, their homes and even small gardens
On a boat! Oh my, isn’t that tub gonna sink?
The wind-facing prow is a freakin’ chimera!

Such a craft is like a merry-go-round
You feelin’ sea-sick ? Looks like a hiccup!
It’s not rocket science, maybe a bit pitchin’
Here’s these talented convicts’ last resort!

Translated from the original version in French, July 19, 2018, Oullins. Appoline

A lone wooden boat floating out in the sea
The waves crashing down from every side
Nothing to lose, there is no more of me
From the onslaught of water I've nowhere to hide

Finding a harbor, the ultimate dream
It never was meant for this one to pass
Flashes of the end I can already gleam
By the elements beaten, nature's hard to surpass

Raging against the current with one final try
Beaten back yet again by the winds of despair
Accepting my fate, getting ready to die
Wondering in my mind if fate could be repaired

Final thoughts spared for those still on the sea
The dark abyss opens with jaws of cold steel
Living to consume noise means nothing to me
Everything was transient, nothing was real

The riverboat floats
Following the stream
To your mind; a dream

most people can exist like
a rubber ball;
floating, bobbing around in the water,
unaffected, intact.

i exist like
a paper boat;
floating fraily,
until I wither and sink.

As I sail the ocean blue fighting against the monstrous waves, I pray to God begging Him to bring me safely to shore. To perish and be buried at sea in a watery grave does not indulge me, but rather frightens me. I am not one who enjoys the sea, nay, the land is what I favor. Aye, there be where life itself resides, where true love rents a room and where true adventure drunkenly wanders the streets. Around every corner lies a new journey, a new face, a new story, but only if you are willing to find it.
      The waves strike the side of the vessel. The ship creaks and moans. I fix the sails to head northbound. The rain falls steadily against my skin, mixing with the sweat on my forehead. I desperately want to give in, to let the sea carry me where she wants instead of fighting with her. But I know when I reach land I will be rewarded with new life...
     Thunder crashes and lightning strikes above me. I crumble to the floor, cowering from fear. Lo! I must press on. Fear is a stowaway on this voyage, one I could not seem to toss off the side of the boat. He is like a shadow, only he is a constant, not fading in the darkness but rather thriving in it. I remain on the floor. I cry out to God, I cry out above the roaring waves, "take me as I am, take me as the coward I am!"
     The sea, she hungers for more victims. And me, I hunger for death. I hunger for the sweet release of this body I possess. Why, oh why have you abandoned me, God?! Why have you left me here to drown?! I beg you to take me now!
     Alas, silence from God but not the sea. She still roars, almost as if she's calling out to me... Calling out to me, telling me to jump... Dare I?
     The thought of jumping chokes me. Dare I drown this misery?
     Dare I die the way I am most terrified to die?


    I dare

She was on the sea
A sea full of her tears
She thought she was alone on the boat
She thought she was helpless
She thought she has nobody in her life
Until she saw my paddles on her boat.

I sat on a boat
Swimming over a sea
She saw me coming
When I saw her
My heart pounded faster than usual
The boat swam faster through the love for her
I could not wait to see her again
But she shot my boat down
a shot with full of fake love
I sink deeper and deeper
I close my eyes
Trying to hold my breath
Until the deep sea stops my heart
Beating for her.