The Sleek Skin of the Leviathan

Silence

And when the Leviathan finally rose

                and came into full sight

heaving its 

               writhing arms out of the water 

and making to 

              embrace the ship

Jacob was awoken by the warning 

clanking

              of a church bell

clammy fog rolled 

through the bedchamber

and Jacob 

took up the sea-lantern resting on the planks of the floor

going out to confront 

to defeat

the monster

mumble, mumble, mutter

mutter, mumble, mumble

Jacob descended the stairs like

descending a ladder

his small shadow accompanying him

down 

         down

                 down

                      into the depths of the ocean

from the windows

the light of the moon 

             churned the water and 

sent bubbles of air floating up into the 

             thick, wooden beams of the ceiling 

each bubble glowing like a star

screech, scratch, mutter

                the bell continued to sound its warning

in the fogged darkness

                as the creature hissed and moaned

The front door was opened wide

the Leviathan

standing 

            black and fretting

            before the house 

drawing closer

the fog shrank, compacted 

and began to close Jacob's throat

as if it were really 

smoke

that emanated from the creature 

and not dense sea-fog

The death of all of us, had to, the death of all of us,  scratch mutter, that crooked serpent, piercing serpent! groan mumble had to, he had to be taught a lesson, a lesson the righteous will not be cheated ! THE RIGHTEOUS, his great and strong sword! Get rid of him, had to had to