By Andrew R. Duckworth
I was broken on the sea. A warming Light was aiding me. But then the rise, before my eyes, From waves raging eternally. The dragon's jaws drew open wide And all the world grew terrified. From its mouth came pouring out A hell built of a million lies. Fire spewing everywhere, From mouth agape and nostrils flared, The hottest fire rising higher, Destruction that's beyond compare. And on the dragon's head and horns Sat a crown made out of thorns, A mocking thing not on a king, Devised where only lies are born. I looked upon the loving Light, The Light ever in Heaven's height. It poured rays down upon the crown Of mockery and Hell's delight. The beast howled out in pain and death, The fire gone from Hell's last breath, Its crown devoured by Heaven's power, It's body on the ocean bed. And now, the Light makes all things new, No painful thing on which to rue, God from God and Light from Light, Heaven's Glory shining bright.
One of the themes that comes up again and again throughout literature is the dangers associated with the sea and the mysteries of it. The sea gets associated with danger and the unexplained in a lot of literature, and that sentiment was not only written down. It was something that was on the minds of many, particularly those that knew the sea well… too well. This poem was influenced by a lot of things, one being that very aspect. I’ve also based much of it on my religious beliefs. In the poem, I’ve placed myself as the main character in the sea. It’s also where the disciples of Jesus find themselves when a storm begins to brew. Yet, I chose not to place myself amidst a storm on the water. Instead, I chose to go to The Apocalypse of John (The Book of Revelation) for much of the imagery, the dragon rising from the sea, etc. I’ve taken liberties, obviously, such as the dragon wearing a crown of thorns to mock Jesus’s sacrifice. Yet, the message I wanted to convey was not one of hopelessness. We all go through struggles in life. In the face of our regret, our transgressions, etc, I wanted to convey that this isn’t the end of the story. The realization of our regret and transgressions is paramount when correction is concerned. The dragon in the story represents the hellish part of all of us, the portion of us that wants to be selfish, that internal struggle, the Devil that exists in everyone. The Light represents a few things. I’ve written about my spiritual beliefs before, but try not to be preachy. Usually, I will simply use religious imagery that corresponds to everyday struggles. The Light, in this poem, represents the Almighty. However, it is also an essential element to the poem in providing balance. The Devil on one shoulder, an angel on the other, etc. The entire poem is referencing the good vs. evil dilemma in all of us. I chose to place myself in the sea, a place of danger, viewing this epic battle between good and evil, but it is more of an internal reflection, seeing the internal battle that exists in everyone. The end, in which the Light triumphs over the dragon, is a statement of faith and hope. Anyway, I’m posting this at a ridiculous hour. I am just now noticing how often I’ve begun a sentence with “The,” in this explanation and it is honestly making me sad… So, for now, thanks for reading!
This writing is the work of its author, Andrew Ryan Duckworth, and can in no way be reproduced, copied, or distributed in any form without request from the author.
Poetry of Andrew Ryan Duckworth 