An Unknown Father - USS Thresher Poem
|
How I often think about that fateful morn Our hearts to be broken, all hope forlorn On a fog shrouded morning the Thresher headed for sea The date was April 10th, Nineteen Sixty Three She was sleek and fast; a proud ship was she 1st in her class, her number 593 With her faithful sub tender, skylark in tow To test depth that morning the Thresher would go Skylark to Thresher… "Are you ok?" Thresher to Skylark… "Having troubles today" Skylark to Thresher… "Are you still there?" Nothing from Thresher but bubbles of air With a loud clap of thunder, her fate was sealed What happened to Thresher would not be revealed One hundred and twenty-nine men … on a ship in harms way Their God, they would meet, before the end of the day 6,000 feet and more the Thresher lay deep An ocean of tears her families would weep Thresher lay in pieces .. on the ocean floor Those fine handsome sailors forever no more Her end was violent and quick we are told 'Twas thought with this, our hearts be consoled Did you have time to think or a chance to pray? Had you any idea what fate held that day Wives, sons and daughters, uncles and aunts too Waited on shore and prayed for you The news came slowly and when it did, it was grim All souls lost! … My thoughts were of him No gravesite to visit, not a body to grieve No respite from anguish, no sorrow's reprieve You were thirty-four and me just one A heavy burden to bare, for a life just begun |