Dawn Approach

Ocean bade me dawn approach, awake from sleep the time encroach,
But something now, somewhere again, a wind that blows no longer kin,
Tilt sail and boom, swing wide around, new gusts subvert our sacred sound,
And chart and guide no longer carry, a fate we thought which drove our ferry,
To shores assured, to harbors safe, to futures bright, with easy faith.

Oh, settle, dear, oh come what may, do not you know how winds do play?
Your ship, your sail, that oak worn vessel, made just for you, a goodly wrestle.
The ropes you hoist, the deck you tend, did you forget I'd come again?

I cling to breath, my ship undone, a storm cast chart and guide asund.
Once, thought I, a plan we made, but ocean wind did send us then,
From tangent did we once affix, to be our guide, our azimuth true.
Now all that's left is ocean blue, a sea of doubt and fear and sin. 
What distant shores may e'er await, lost and gone and out of view.

A spirit star, you seek for self, to plant your doubt, to quench your health.
Yon eyes, ye sailor, to where they flee, when death be now that all you see, 
And fog and cloud and storm of night, does cast your doubt to darkened fright?

The way is shut, no shelter here, the weathered kegs store last of beer,
Drowning can wait when this remains, a night or two forgetting pains,
But drown did I in ocean depths, no act of Sea but numbing woe.
And ocean bade me dawn approach, that I should fight that bitter foe,
That blew my heart up from the flow, of fiercest love that all should know.

A murky shadow does always stalk, from bow to stern it seeks to mock,
A craft, a trade as old as time, I set you there to make it shine,
To capture true the water murk, to spring forth life and love and work.

Through sky shadows water pours, but I be Captain, my task afore,
To tend my vessel, my lot, to shore, is all a gift, come waters more.
A hatch I open, behold the dawn! A ray of gods splits here and yon,
Avast! I fix the knotted ropes, with hands my own, as dawn approach,
And sails anew in winds unknown, my ship alight from body sore.

To each I give a burden pure, not to harm but settle sure,
The hope and age which only thrive, in winds and storms and ocean eye,
And come what may, I challenge thee, to fetch your faith, to love your sea.