"Will" by Charlie Hendren

Where the coast of ancient Ireland meets the ocean's roar

A band of frozen villagers stood hard upon the shore

'Twas a black and frigid evening; icy mistlets spun the air

As they watched a ship out on the brine and offered silent prayer.

The Pride of Cork was going down she had driven hard on the rocks

And was torn by jagged boulders where the sea would claim her loss.

Her ribs had shattered in the bout and the crew of ten and three

'Twas sure to drowned amidst the foam of a cold and deadly sea.

'Twas sure that nothing could be done. 'Twas sure the crew would die.

Till a gallant soul upon the sands yelled, "Lads we've got to try

To get the long boat to the crew for we're their only prayer

I know the odds are slim but they're a drownin' right out there!"

And so it was that eight brave men laid hands to slippery oars

And so cast off to reach the Cork some eighty rods from shore.

They quickly vanished midst the moil of a savage booming sea

Where they would make their humble try to save the ten and three.

***************

Forty minutes slowly past and then near twenty more

When a hollow haunting cry was heard, "Hallo-o-o! Hallo-o-o! the shore!"

'Twas the eight lads in the long boat appearing in the swells

And with them in the boat a huddled group of twelve.

As the long boat touched the shore and the rescued helped to land

A small boy amongst the watchers asked, "But where's the other man?"

His answer came from frozen lips, "Lad there wasn't room.

The Lord knows we tried but 'tis sure he's gone to meet his doom."

The boy turned to his mother in a voice both soft and high

"Mother, let me take my boat and give it one more try!"

His mother drew him to her held him tightly as she said,

"No, my son you cannot go for I will not see you dead.

The ocean claimed your father nearly six years past today

And Will your older brother is now two years gone away.

Not a word we've gotten since he ran off to the sea;

You're all I've got in all the world and your stayin' here with me.

When brother Will left his note and ran off to the sea

I felt it in my very heart that never more I'd see

His handsome face not touch his brow: The ocean's claimed his soul

He's far and gone these two long years

And I will not let you go!"

"But mother dear, the men can't go they're frozen to the bone

I'm all that's left to save the one that's perishing alone.

I'll take my dingy small and light she'd breast the meanest wave

And you'd not have me standing here when there's one more life to save."

With those few but urgent words her son now broke away

And rant to cast his tiny boat into the foaming waves.

Boat and boy soon disappeared within the darkening storm

While a grieving mother stood alone and wept and silent mourned.

***************

An hour past. An hour ten and some now turned to leave

When came the hopeful ringing cry, "There, there's something in the sea!"

All eyes swept the angry foam that crashed upon the sand

Searching for a boat and lad and perhaps a thirteenth man.

Yes! There it was appearing from the gloom;

But was there no one in the boat?

Or was there one? Or two?

The boat took shape against the black of raging storming din

The watchers ran to grab her prow and dragged the dingy in.

A mother's lone figure now stood fearful on the shore

Afraid to ask or chance a look at what the dingy bore.

But then the mother heard a joyous chorus split the night

Could her lone remaining son have made it back all right?

She drew a breath then turned to the boat upon the shore

Where now she heard the warming cry

"It's them! Oh, praise the Lord!"

Then came her young son's voice breaking through the chill

"Mother, I've brought the thirteenth man, and Mother, it is Will!"