In Memory of Francis Chichester
who sailed round the world
He died at sea.
His spirit has gone far out on an endeavour
of natural sea-grip.
Yes, I say it will never
slip the world’s maintenance, at last keel over.
He died at sea.
Through the world’s weather to the no-horizon
a spirit-yacht sails remarkably on.
He died at sea.
Gone is that wholeness, gone.
And so I say
no hospital could hold him where he lay.
He died at sea.