Salt crust clings to lantern glass
Ferry chains lie slack in grass
Logbook open to yesterday
Tide tables marked in pencil gray
Boots wait silent by the door
Dawn breaks cold on empty dock
Keeper hums a hymn on rock
No voices rise to meet the sound
Only gulls on thermal ground
Light sweeps wide across the bay
Coffee tin steam curls through air
Paint flakes drift like prayer on prayer
Boots worn smooth on iron stair
Morning light catches copper hair
Rooster crows from keeper's yard
Radio static speaks in code
Names of ships on distant road
Fingers trace the brass needle's glow
Compass rose spins soft and slow
Chart ink bleeds on salt-soaked card
Dawn breaks cold on empty dock
Keeper hums a hymn on rock
No voices rise to meet the sound
Only gulls on thermal ground
Light sweeps wide across the bay
Choir chords rise from memory
Alto line beneath the sea
Breath held long in chapel hush
Now released in morning rush
Organ tone in weathered wood
Ferry horn will sound at seven
Stars still visible in heaven
Keeper tends the wick and flame
Calls each vessel by its name
Logbook waits for next entry
Dawn breaks cold on empty dock
Keeper hums a hymn on rock
Voices rise to meet the sound
Gulls and choir on common ground
Light sweeps wide across the bay
Another clear and salt-sung day
Signal held in steady sway
