"WATER AT NIGHT"

Water at night, deep water, that is,

Has strange and turbulent ways.

Smooth as glass, of an ebony hue

Monstrous, Dainty, Coyly at bay

It moves as molten lead.

Unimaginable, is the terrible hell

Concealed ‘neath it’s rolling head,

That can be and is, from time to time,

Unleashed and allowed to play

With gargantuan, beautiful might,

It flings the spume and spray,

Beset with none but havoc

It boils and roars and heaves

Almost to the scowling heavens

As tho’ some god bereaves,

His lot, of black and molten mass.

E. C. Nightingale

Editors note: Stationed aboard the USS Arizona, Earl was one of twelve surviving Marines who were aboard the Arizona at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor.