ON A VITAL MISSION SHE WAS SENT
IN AN ATTEMPT TO END THAT TERRIBLE WAR
UNESCORTED, ALONE IN THE PACIFIC
MANY LEAGUES FROM THE NEAREST SHORE
DEFENSIVE MEASURES, SHE TOOK NONE
BEING TOLD SHE WAS SAFE FROM HARM
THE TORPEDO STRUCK HER STARBOARD
“ALL HANDS ABANDON SHIP” CAME THE ALARM
ONLY TWELVE MINUTES AND SHE WENT DOWN
TAKING THREE HUNDRED TO HER GRAVE
AND FOR THE REMAINING NINE HUNDRED
JUST ONE THOUGHT “WILL WE BE SAVED?”
THEY WERE CAST ADRIFT IN A SAVAGE SEA
WITHOUT FOOD OR CLEAN WATER TO DRINK
THE BROILING SUN ON MANGLED BURNT FLESH
BROUGHT AGONY TO THOSE ON THE BRINK
ONE BY ONE THEY BEGAN TO DISAPPEAR
DROWNING, DYING IN PAIN INTENSE AND STARK
SCREAMING, KICKING, AND FLAILING ABOUT
AS THEY FELL PREY TO RAVENOUS SHARKS
FOR THREE DAYS THEY PRAYED AND WAITED
UNTIL THE SEAPLANE FINALLY FLEW BY
AND OF THE BRAVE CRUISER’S CREW
LESS THAN FOUR HUNDRED WOULD SURVIVE
THE USN INDIANAPOLIS, SHE NOW RESTS
DOWN SO DEEP IN A WATERY GRAVE
A SOMBER REMINDER OF HER PAST
AND A MONUMENT TO HER CREW SO BRAVE
Friday, June 24, 2022