Ballad of the Delphy
Fear the Delphy Destroyer
for that Oracle does lie—
lies fathoms below
those cross-current tides.
Aye, that chain of command
could not mute the young men.
Cap’s dead reckoning, mates!
Some reckoned him wrong.
But Captain he worshiped
the Sirens of Speed
like Apollo’s swift arrow
he taketh no heed.
Though his seven proud ships
through tempest were tossed
steamed full steam ahead
but ahead Devil’s Jaw.
Sharp lava’s black teeth,
Hades’ bone-hungry maw
but his menace fog hidden—
stone-blind to cold claws.
Those rocks named Woodbury?
Sea would bury those men,
yet none by name mentioned
‘pon the Honda Point Plaque.
The bronze weathered bare
does wear the ship’s names,
while men’s memories lost,
sunken hulks still remain.
Know the 8th of September 1923
23 poor sailors of Squadron 11
lost their lives that dark night
to Poseidon’s black sea.
And Captain, brave Captain
stood to bear that pain.
Could even Apollo
shoulder such shame?
After the Edson Smith Photo Collection Honda Point Tragedy
Steve Braff has been published in Tea House, Cholla Needles Press, Muryoko Journal of Shin Buddhism, Nomad’s Choir, and Poetry Super Highway. Founder & host of the Blue Whale Poetry Series in Santa Barbara and the Wildling Museum Poetry Series in Solvang, he also enjoys reading at venues in Central & Southern California.