The North Atlantic Sea raged bitter cold <br />as a convoy of ships sailed swiftly as could be. <br />A wolf pack of submarines <br />were waiting somewhere <br />beneath the cold waters there. <br />Everyone scanned the icy waters <br />for some tell tale sign <br />as the merchant navy steamed on. <br />A destroyer was their bodyguard <br />in case trouble flared. <br />The sky’s clouds were grey <br />and filled with snow and followed them <br />into the eastern horizon. <br />Suddenly an enormous explosion <br />lit up the sky. <br />A U-boat had hit a target <br /> and many brave men <br />were heading for a watery grave. <br />The destroyer raced towards the stricken ship <br />as another explosion rocked the sea. <br />The U-boats were finding their targets. <br />The destroyer disengaged <br />and started a depth charge run. <br />The merchant ships could only steam ahead <br />as fast as they could <br />through the icy water <br />of the North Atlantic Sea. <br />The destroyer circled again and again, <br />until finally the bow of a U-boat <br />surfaced off the port side. <br />Sailors jumped into the waters <br />hoping to save their lives. <br />The destroyer’s Captain ordered <br />lifeboats to be lowered <br />to save as many as he could. <br />Two dozen lives were saved that day <br />in a bleak November. <br />The destroyer then went back <br />to help the merchant men. <br />Several of the merchant fleet <br />had slowed and picked up survivors there. <br />However, many were lost <br />to the North Atlantic Sea <br />on this day in the life <br />of one convoy during the war, <br />and the brave men <br />who faced terrible conditions there <br />on a cruel sea. <br /> <br />12 February 2008<br /><br />David Harris<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/north-atlantic-sea/
