Two Lights

In a lonely lighthouse
At the land’s end, a lantern was burning
From the fall of the night
To the first fragile light of the morning
He flashed out a warning
To all the travelers of wind and waves
To save them from a wrecking on the rocks

O, the winter was cold
And the hunger would lead them to slaughter
It would come for the old
With the youngest succumbing soon after
So, they went to the water
With fire for the travelers of wind and waves
To draw them to a wrecking on the rocks

Would the hull splinter and split?
Would the throats be stripped and slit?
Would the ship belly be emptied in the blood-dark sea?
In the house, the lamp grew brighter
As the keeper tried to fight their dark deeds
By shining a light for all to see

All the captain could see:
Two lights in the night as it deepened
And he chose from the two
With the cargo and crew in his keeping
The men were all sleeping
So sure, the master of wind and waves
Would keep them from a wrecking on the rocks