Blackrock.
Fiercesomely gaunt like some surprised
mammoth it rises
out of the ocean\'s lash.
Time-blackened by relentless breakers
its great salined form rears
the caveat that hidden granite permits
no answering back.
Vessels with caution steer clear in fear
of wrecking against
Blackrock\'s open maw when storms hit
and ships float too near.
Many before have suffered attack but
none more tragic
than fisherman Jack\'s tug as it pulled
a capsizing pleasure-boat
away from death then split by rock lost
all hands on tug-deck and
the one filled with holiday passengers.
Never before sounded such wailing
for with no survivors
and within sight of land that soaring
leviathan had gorged
then spat out before daylight every
wave-lashed corpse.
Just as a reminder Blackrock at each
tide shows its formidable
jaws for a while as invincible signals
of sea\'s dire warning.