Phantom Light (with audio)

Long poetry is not everyone’s jam, but I hope you enjoy this Ballad 💜

Out on the sea
sailing through storms
I saw a light guide me home 
but then my ship 
dashed on the rocks
in peril amongst the foam

A presence felt
I lifted my head 
to the flashing skies
The guiding beam
became a man
a lighthouse in disguise

He stood up high 
with light aloft 
waylaying all who appeared
The Phantom’s light 
led me astray
living world disappeared

I asked him why 
he lit the way
to my violent death 
He glared at me 
with empty eyes 
and took a death-soaked breath

“I had a love 
who sailed the world 
swore she’d return to me 
But one fateful day 
a wild storm came 
upon the Baltic Sea

There was no light 
to keep her safe 
so on that day, she drowned 
Her boat it sank 
and with her death
my soul became hell-bound

My love is gone 
and now I rage 
with every rain and hail
I take comfort 
when I hear proof 
I’ve downed another sail

I can’t have love
so why should you – 
despair is better shared 
Now you have heard
you’ll understand
not one soul can be spared”

Watery grave 
is now my home 
yet I send boats a sign 
When phantom lights 
appears at night 
I make sure that I shine

The vessels see 
my makeshift shore 
made of bioluminescence 
They avoid death 
fake lighthouse fails
his power now evanescence

---

I’ve been holding onto this poem for a while now, hoping to find a 60-year-old Scotsman to record the male audio. Alas, this didn’t happen, so I’ve used my voice for the whole piece.