Rope Burn
By Ryan Scott
Again Captain Again!
Again Captain Again!
Sea foam, screaming, salt bubbles, salt washed
Waterfists break decks, break on deck,
Let fingers pass through break legs,
as he flies from the planks
to the ocean , soft, soft, sops
slurping through his toes, his nose, his mouth
Again Captain Again!
Again Captain Again!
His mouth, his mouth full, a mouthful, about
the size of a teacup. No calmer in or out,
up on the railing, bucking and braying,
faces collide in
toothed excitement, as the cold green
moves away, and cuts skin through bone to skin.
Again Captain Again!
Again Captain Again!
Skin like what bitumen pulls off us;
the greedy from fruit;
the inventive from cats,
cat o'nine tails along
his back, like a teacher's backhand,
though he'd do anything for her detention.
Again Captain Again!
Again Captain Again!
Detention that's the most
they offer any transgression, in
a room with a table for a scroll or
ropes for your wrists, ropes
that burn when not lit, he prays for a match,
before they throw him to the sea foam screaming,
Again Captain Again!
Again Captain Again!