This narrative poem, The Keeper of the Lighthouse, explores the life of a boy born with a love for the sea but hindered by a physical limitation. Despite his inability to become a sailor, his passion for the ocean leads him to a life of service as a lighthouse keeper. Through this role, he finds a way to be part of the maritime world, guiding sailors safely with his light. His journey from longing observer to the active guardian of the sea encapsulates themes of determination, transformation, and finding one's place in the world through unexpected avenues.
Born with a heart that yearned for the sea,
But fate, in its twists, would not let him be free.
A boy with a limp, a sailor's dream denied,
In the harbor's embrace, he'd watch ships glide.
Each dawn, he'd rise to meet the day's first light,
His gaze fixed on where sea met sky in sight.
The ocean sang to him, a relentless call,
Yet the sea's embrace was not for him at all.
Ships sailed out with the morning light,
Returning at dusk or lost in the night.
He watched from the shore with envy and love,
For the sea was his calling, his muse from above.
Years passed like waves upon the sand,
His longing for the sea never left his hand.
Then, an old keeper with wisdom to share,
Saw the fire in his gaze, his sea-soaked stare.
"Help me," the keeper said, "to light the way,
For those at sea, in the night, in the fray."
And so, with purpose, his life did shift,
From the shore's longing gaze to a beacon's gift.
He ascended the towering lighthouse stairs,
Each step distancing from past despair.
Atop, he lit the flame, bright and true,
Guiding the lost, giving the sea its due.
No longer just watching, now part of the tale,
The boy became a keeper in the storm and the gale.
A guardian of sailors, his light pierced the dark,
His once-silent song is now a landmark.
Each night he stood watch with pride in his chest,
For those at sea, his light was their best.
A beacon of hope, a guide through the strife,
The boy with the limp led a sailor's life.
His tale spread far, carried by the breeze,
Of how one can sail without leaving the leas.
The lighthouse keeper, with his heart so vast,
Found his sea in the sky, his ship in the mast.
And thus, his story, in verse, we retell,
Of a boy who loved deeply but could not sail well.
Yet, through his light, many lives he would save,
A beacon of courage, his legacy brave.
Author: William Somero | Published: 12/08/2024 | Last Updated: 07/08/2025 | Views: 134
