Eternal Vigil
by Charlie Morgan
Men of the Dolphin sailing low;
periscope at short-depth,
off Hawaii.
Dec. 5, '41 patrolling perimeter;
duty and fear: constant companions,
awaiting shift's end.
Discovery made!; enemy fleet, unanswered.
slicing the blue-green water
into air-clear bubbles.
Facing fearlessly in its sight:
a bruising Jap cruiser,
cutting the distance in half.
Salvos fired: missing by yards
the metal coffin-to-be
of her 65 warriors.
Loading tubes, one through four,
the Dolphin countered
and when shell meets steel, floating, impossible.
Dive! Dive! the Dolphin did, the cruiser followed.
no power.
gravity winning.
Slid she did, the ocean bottom
waiting with emerald arms
extending.
to welcome her silent intruder
to the final resting place
of the martyred.
04/21/2005