When all the world has cancer
black dog has gnawed the bone
last bell has rung, fat lady’s sung
and everyone’s gone home

when night comes creeping deeper
as a leper all alone:
then listen dear, come dancing where
the sea chant waltzes on.

The greening sea, the keening sea,
the wheezing, dreaming, beaming sea
will lull us all along.

© Julie Thorndyke