The Ship

The cabin was dim

but the letters could be read

on the bulkhead box:

Break Glass ONLY

In Extreme Emergency.

I knew then

That we were sinking

and I was trapped,

and so

I broke the glass.

Resting inside

was a sheet of paper

and on that sheet

were words and music.

It was a song.

The words at the top said:

“Sing This Song”

And it was

an Extreme Emergency

so I sang,

And as I sang,

I heard other voices

raised above the water,

and we sang together:

as the water rose.