A page master's journey.

The journey was rigid

The passengers were bruised

the ship had set sail slowly

but had no return

the captain had been banished

his first mate enbittered

while the crew looked on with tears in their eyes.

Helpless to rescue, Helpless to intervene

then, came the wave. 

A moments hesitation.

too little, too late.

Blood splattered the floor.

A fire raged on deck.

lives, were lost.

A navy man was soon sent to report

the casualties of the catastrophe

two injured, but alive,

left scared in ways seen and unseen

one, left dead. Never to return.

with little left to hold in port, 

a rescue ship was sent out to find the remaining two

but what came afterwards could never be predicted

the young cabin boys were barely alive,

struggling against the world to live

the page master, was left alone to his nightmares

What had been seen, and what had been felt.

in his remaining years,

the page master saw many things change

cities came and cities went, 

loved ones would come and go,

but one thing remained:

hope

hope that something will come

hope that someone will be with you

hope that somewhere, you are needed