there is albatross chained round the neck

old grey bird found limp upon the deck

a weight

a weight

like lead piled on a sinking fate

each of us a mariner on groaning earth

each one a notched arrow let fly at birth

who would sing in salt dry heat of day

when each pain upon our own shouders lay

denied

denied

dragged down beaten by blind hubris pride

deserving the deepened cover of moon-tugged tide

pulled beneath the waves to drown in seas of loss

pulled out again and rescued by life-giving cross

while links do burden break and let fall dead albatross

and now is light

and freedom-flight

a breathing in through starry living night

till sun does rise restoring new eternal sight