The Vessel

In a strange dream, in the dream time,

I sailed over a shoreless ocean.

The winds knew no hatred and the winter no cold.

Near dawn, I met a large vessel with no masts.

Huge and low, it was covered with golden flowers and palms.

It cruised slowly on calm seas,

under the white boredom of the sky, steered by chance.

It aimed for distant goals, never reaching them.

Off it sped, then followed its own wake back,

endlessly repeating its tranquil voyage.

The large vessel with no masts was not headed toward any port:

it had forgotten labour, orgies,

hope, war and the pain of remembrance.

Pilots, passengers, cabin boys and seamen

all slept trustingly on the sweet waves,

and the sea rocked them in its kindness.

I wanted to sleep in that immense peace

and I wanted to climb aboard the lost ship.

I cried out to it, but there was no answer.

I saw seven golden letters on its ivory plaque,

and then it was gone... "Believe!" Its name was "Believe!"