The Ship Sailed On

4am.

The officer of the watch wondered: ‘How she goes?’
I had no points of reference. She asked me -
‘Do you need me, or do you want to navigate alone?’
I couldn’t answer -

those two cardinals?

The same.

I sought the answer in the Southern skies - her stars
a means to navigate.
But though that night was crystal clear
I couldn’t find Orion

no point of reference -

no journeys end.

The ship sailed on.