the sea, unforgiving, voraceous,
looking always to pull beneath
her roiling skin all that which
tries to cut through

to give enough of her water
to sink them, giving her
time to nibble as gravity
does her part to bring all
unto the briny deep

fools who see only beauty
in sharp waves and high crests
do not understand what the sea is,
and how she hungers

in Winter, risk is amplified,
as cold waters so quickly
subdue the lives of those pulled in

and so the sea lanes were carefully plotted

ships would cross from point to point
on isocheimal charts–would seek a
warmer, calmer way–
but the sea, cheated of this prey,
her appetite grows, she growls,
she finds another way