There once was a lone sailor

On a solemn ship, just passing in the night.

Its lone beam cut through the grey darkness

Of the piercing sleet and rain

pitter-pattering on the choppy sea

wrapped in cold and blight.

The sailor looked up, turned his eyes to the sky

And saw nothing but the clouds above

And he said to himself:

"Am I the only ship on this sea, just passing in the night?"

Off on his journey he went, for months at a time,

Seeing no one, not a star in the sky

Seeing no one, not a star in the sky

On his long, hard journey

to deliver the light.

Lonely and laborious, the job was

But he was the chosen one,

qualified for the job.

And, every once in awhile, he found something bright.

Once in a blue moon,

although he ne'er saw such a sight,

his lightvessel's beam

would strike with ease

another ship just passing in the night.

Ecstatic, the sailor would rush to the rails

crying out, "Hello!  Is anyone there?"

And sometimes, the ship would draw near

exchange a friendly gaze, or a wave from its passengers

or a flicker of the bow's headlight.

But these were just ships passing in the night,

and the sailor would be alone again, having shared his light

and the ship would sail on

into the deep and treacherous night.

The tempests beckoned him, and the boat creaked in fright

But the old sailor never ceased,

for this was his position,

and he would be sure to do it right.

Every once in a while, the sailor would have the luxury

of coming home, to his friends and his family.

The ship would be filled with fuel,

the cabinets stocked with food,

by friends who eagerly awaited for him

on the port in the daylight.

And the old sailor, happy and full

would set back out on his long journey.

The anchor was polished and he was light of heart,

and ready to help the ships, just passing in the night.