The Spirit of the Sea

I have seen the ocean
In all its varied moods,
Calm and tranquil
Without a ripple
As far as the eye can see,
Then raging in angry fury,
Hurling its might
Against the land.
I have seen towering waves
Over a hundred feet high
And been stuck in the doldrums
With no wind for the sail,
Baking in the equatorial sun.
I have braved its arctic cold
And basked in its tropical warmth.
I have explored its reefs,
Dove to nearly a 100 feet
In its murky wetness
And gazed into its infinite depths.
I have sailed for weeks
Without sight of land,
Boat or plane,
Lost in its vastness,
And I have seen it froth
With a school of tuna
Stretching as far
As the eye could see,
Horizon to horizon.
Though it may at times
Appear fickle in spirit,
Obstinate or irritable,
I have learned
To appreciate its beauty
And respect its power.