Ancient Mariner

The ancient mariner, he sits, arms folded to his breast
He casts his gaze around at you and the rest
Then he laughs softly to himself at our misery and pride
Then scornfully turns away to the memories he has to hide

He sits deaf to sight and sound,
Thinks warmly of the past as we bustle around
And in his mind the seas all roar, the wind, its blowing high
Creaking sails and straining wood of ships bound to die

He sits, no worries him to find
Safe harbour beckons him to the births of his mind
And everything's so clear to him, he knows what you don't know
You ask him wonderingly of a life, he says it's just not so

He sits over the silence of the bay
His eyes speak, you can hear what they say
Then satisfied you turn to go, thinking you've grown more wise
You think you got all you cared from him, only then do you realize

The ancient mariner sits there, arms folded to his breast
He casts his gaze around at you and the rest
Then he laughs softly to himself, what else can he do?
For one day soon, and suddenly, the ancient mariner will be you