Benjamin E Stone, Able Seaman ...

The high walls of the church were patterned with lichen - 

Broken angels stood knee high in the withered grass - 

Inside the austere nave, we felt the weight of memory - 

I pictured the young able seaman, sitting in one of the box pews - 

Already he could smell the wind from Africa - 

Perhaps he saw the dhow, cutting through the bright water - 

He saw his life in the curl of an enerald wave -

There was his memorial - 

Died of wounds received in action - aged 19 years - 

13.24

Wednesday 1 February 2017

St George's 

Portland

Dorset