TREADING WATER -Poetry by guest author Kimberly Green

He slothered his face with black oil paint

Praying the rescue ships wouldn’t be too late

For All accounts, he was ok

Ok would change for him this day

Not knowing he’d be in the water five days

He slothered his face with black oil paint

All around was a broken ship

Within twelve minutes she took her final dip

Sailors to the left and sailors to the right

Death dying wails, screams, and cries

Not knowing his fate

He slothered his face with black oil paint

Tying themselves together best they could

Sharks  knocking the raft wood

No fresh water for five days

Created men no longer sane

Chaplain Conway became OUR patron Saint

He slothered his face with black oil paint

Survivors thought all was lost.

Plane sea landing - barring the cost

USS  Indianapolis survivors numbering 317

Rescue was surreal felt like a dream

Rescue teams pulled them from the water

Finally freeing themselves of the black slother …..

 ***Slother was the word that Kimberly Stowe Green crafted for this poem ***

USS Indianapolis was sunk by the Japanese

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Treading Water

 by Kimberly Stowe Green