The Tolling of the Boats

THE TOLLING OF THE BOATS

LIKE A BELL BUOY
RINGING IN THE NIGHT
BONG BONG
BONG BONG
BONG BONG
THIS WAY
THIS WAY
THIS WAY
AT PEACE
AT PEACE
AT PEACE
AND THE SWIRLING FOG
LEFT TEARS OF REMEMBRANCE
ON THEIR FACES
THE OLD ONES
THE REMEMBERERS

I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE A GUEST
AT A SUBMARINERS
GRADUATION CEREMONY

THEY LOOKED LIKE CHILDREN
WERE WE EVER THAT YOUNG

BUT ALL GREW SOLEMN
AT THE TOLLING OF THE BOATS
SUBMARINES LOST AT SEA
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SERVICE

THE BOAT’S NAME WAS CALLED
THE BELL WAS TOLLED
THE DATE AND NUMBER OF DEAD FOLLOWED
A GROWING SENSE OF QUIET
FILLED THE ROOM

SHIPMATES GONE
MEMORIES OF YOUTH
AND GOOD TIMES
AND THE BELL TOLLING
FAREWELL
FAREWELL
FAREWELL

FRANK A VOLLMER