07/31/2025

Strange sight I saw by the dusklit trailhead,

where be shadows number’d nineteen and three

and a miserable wretch whose head bled

from a stricken blow cave’d to cavity. 

Chanting cries to a drown’d goddess I heard

pierce the night’s veil about the near river,

scatter’d fire flyers and the night birds,

against my hearty nerves made me shiver. 

They cloth’d the wretch in the ritual dress

of rough sharkhide leather and shackle’d weights,

set him in the river, upon him did bless, 

and set themselves a spot, set empty plates.

What mystery, what horror did I see,

but a cruel feast for a god of the sea?