A Sailor's Christmas

The stars blink softly, far above the mast,
Cold winds hum carols through the rigging.
The sea, an endless ribbon of black silk,
Whispers stories of distant shores
And the homes we carry in our hearts.

The horizon holds no twinkling lights,
No snowy rooftops or frosted pines,
Only the rise and fall of the waves—
A rhythm that beats like a second heart,
Steady, soothing, eternal.

Far from home, I trace the constellations,
The same stars you see tonight.
Do you know I send my thoughts to you,
On the wind that carries this lonely vessel?
A wish, a prayer, a promise.

The sea sings its own Christmas hymn,
The creak of timbers, the sigh of sails,
And the steady drip of the night watch’s lantern.
It is not the warmth of a fire,
But it comforts just the same.

For though I am adrift, I am not alone.
The waves cradle me like a mother’s arms,
The wind reminds me of laughter,
And the stars guide me, as they always have.
This ship, this life, this moment—
It is enough, for now.

Still, I close my eyes and picture the tree,
The gifts wrapped in paper and care.
The faces of loved ones, glowing with joy,
And the sound of a familiar voice.
These memories are my treasures,
Tucked safely away, like jewels in a chest.

Christmas at sea is different, yes,
But it is no less sacred.
For even here, far from hearth and home,
The spirit of love sails with me,
An unseen crewmate,
Ever near.