Your Lighthouse

Your lighthouse tall and beaming bright,

The only port I sense tonight,

"And you, my dear, before I go,

Beyond blue breakers may you know-

That all my heart is meant for you",

I said; you turned and then withdrew,

That hand I touched; you walked away,

And said to me, “Don’t sail today,”


You know this is the final tour,

Just see me off; I'll be secure,

Or walk out by the lighthouse rail,

As home to you my ship I sail.


If you must go I will not wave

My brother doomed to ocean grave,

That day his lady came to pier,

Bad omens these, men disappear.

Upon the high seas rough winds roared,

It tossed our ship and shook each board,

But they held tight until we saw,

The rocks before your harbor draw.

I screamed to every man below,

"I see her from the lighthouse glow,"

That silhouette it's you, it's you,

You do love me, you do, you do.

Your lighthouse beam on moonless night,

Your harbor safe was in our sight,

The rudder broke the ship and we,

Were once at mercy of the sea.

The ship exploded on that shore,

A thousand shards on ocean floor,

A body on the beach lies still,

The morning light begins to fill-

Your eyes as down the strand you run,

to see the ruin in blazing sun,

My image seen on rocky land,

On knee you reach to take my hand.

You kiss my lips I open eyes,

We start to laugh, and in surprise,

We grab each other close; embrace,

Once more I touch your hand and face.

And evermore we see that day,

As aged we walk out to the bay,

Your silhouette by lighthouse drew,

Me from the ocean back to you.

Peter Lowell Paulson

September 16, 2010