Bon Voyage

by Philip Venzke

Nothing will live here for a few hours.

How quietly the crows have taken over

this ship.  The sails are crying:

“Seagulls, go back, go back to your grave.

I don’t need you, you are too loyal.”

Auf Weidersehen, you angel of great fright;

you always slash at the night’s veil

with an exuding foil.  You always reach,

you satiated carnivore!  The red stain

bleeds into the saturated sky.

Night’s sweetness is the dead reward

for fierce goodness.  O mercy

will not flounder after you forever.

You shall never hear the lovely sirens.

Put your fist through this hull!

BIO: Philip Venzke grew up on a dairy farm near Colby, Wisconsin.  His poetry is published in magazines throughout the U.S. and Europe.  He is the author of four poetry chapbooks and one poetry book.