PLAY ON, YE ANICIENT MARINER

my ode to the ancient mariner

and play, ye ancient mariner!
play on inside my head!
for long, your rime, with death's sublime
albatross breeds dread.

and play thy rime one more time
of how those sailors died
and how you wore that great white bird
around your neck with pride

"water, water everwhere
and not a drop to drink"
sing thy baleful song again
and make me stop to think!

and play, ye ancient mariner!
play on inside my head
and with each verse, your taint and curse
stain's darker with blood's red!

                    --Monty Wheeler