We bring our model ships to sea,
Made from nights and days of dirty work,
eyes ablaze with visions of sails brave,
Not entirely sure if in reality, it is of any worth.
Our mistakes show themselves at once,
As the water collects around our ankles- fixing our eyes downwards.
We topple and turn in the uncharted waters,
We know without looking up that our mast is pointing everywhere but upwards.
An effort to wipe off the sweat from our knitted brow reveals your silhouette,
Legs wide apart, elbows bent, arms at your waist, your eyes-of confidence, a lake;
Your ship, brilliantly afloat, steady;
To us, just short of a super hero’s cape.
You don’t laugh at the vanity that created our ship,
Instead tell us how to keep our mast pointing upward,
You teach us how to stay afloat, survive the waters rough,
And for once, watch with pride at our ship moving forward.
We write this ode, stringing one word with the next; appalled at their inadequacy,
To honour you, who, to our dreams, are a shining beacon;
to the superheroes of these uncharted waters,
To raise a toast and say in unison, “Aye, aye, captain!”