The Freedom of the Seas

Sitting here,
in this darkened room,
memories seep, unbidden, to my mind.
I remember all that came before,
leading to this forsaken place.
I think on why I'm here,
and why I did what I did.
Looking back, at these memories,
I recall the days long ago,
when I used to sit by the sea,
dreaming of the times to come,
as often I did those days.
I never did dream I'd end up here,
but one can't always know what's to come.

I remember the bright blue waves,
always crashing upon the shore.
My father always told me,
he never could live without that sound.
At one point in my life,
I would have agreed.
That is, until I met my destiny.
Even as I think of it,
my longing never faded.
But when I found the man I loved,
I learned to live without it.

As a girl, I loved the sea,
and I never feared it's power.
I remember my father's lessons,
on dealings with the sea.
As long as you respected her,
you would come to no harm.
He told me that respecting her,
meant always being prepared.
He told me to never think
she was giving out her all at anytime,
for she had a way of proving you wrong.

I remember those sunny days,
when the sea was sparkling blue.
I used to rush through my chores
so my father would let me go down.
Those were the peaceful days,
long 'fore I met my love,
and even longer before the war.

I try not to dwell on that,
knowing I'm here due to then.
But my memories of the sea,
keep me still alive,
thriving in this darkened room,
remembering those days I loved.

I see, now, how free I was,
how much I could do.
The sea was my refuge then,
and father always knew.
If I left for some reason,
he always found me there,
gazing as the waves came in,
giving their gentle beat.

I remember dancing,
along that sandy shore,
moving to the beat of the waves,
and longing for more:
longing for more freedom,
to live in the sea,
to be closer to the place I loved,
knowing it couldn't be.

Even in this darkened room,
my soul feels lighter thinking,
remembering times when I was young,
and free to dream.
It gives me comfort, in my old age,
to know I had that chance.
And as I think upon those days,
I feel myself being lifted,
from all the sorrows around me,
and somehow this room,
though dark and cold,
seems to grow brighter.
And with the brightness comes the warmth,
to heat these old bones.
I find myself drifting off,
in the lulling of the waves,
inside my memory,
and softly now I drift to sleep,
comforted at last.
And my memory drifts off,
and I find myself fully at peace,
lifted up from the earth,
no longer living in that darkened room,
I am now being led to heavens doors,
away from all that gloom.