The Tolling of the Boats

LIKE A BELL BUOY

RINGING IN THE NIGHT

BONG BONG

BONG BONG

BONG BONG

THIS WAY

THIS WAY

THIS WAY

AT PEACE

AT PEACE

AT PEACE

AND THE SWIRLING FOG

LEFT TEARS OF REMEMBRANCE

ON THEIR FACES

THE OLD ONES

THE REMEMBERERS

I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE A GUEST

AT A SUBMARINERS

GRADUATION CEREMONY

THEY LOOKED LIKE CHILDREN

WERE WE EVER THAT YOUNG

BUT ALL GREW SOLEMN

AT THE TOLLING OF THE BOATS

SUBMARINES LOST AT SEA

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SERVICE

THE BOAT’S NAME WAS CALLED

THE BELL WAS TOLLED

THE DATE AND NUMBER OF DEAD FOLLOWED

A GROWING SENSE OF QUIET

FILLED THE ROOM

SHIPMATES GONE

MEMORIES OF YOUTH

AND GOOD TIMES

AND THE BELL TOLLING

FAREWELL

FAREWELL

FAREWELL

FRANK A VOLLMER