39

later
when the dog-moon snickered
and the swell rose for harm
the hull panted like a chest and prayers
rose at the beating

the men grabbed hold and held
the cool calm before, laid in
with kisses honestly earned
from kissers paid in desolation

when they were boys again and slept
assured of home and love
longer before even, before the dog-moon
before the swell took them away

holding on they stared
far beyond iniquity
some counted, some could not, to thirty-nine
and thirty-nine again, and waited for the final cry
wondering why they were forsaken