Survivor of a capsized wreck
you find an island in the night
and fashion shelter from debris
between your vigils by the sea
anticipating rescue boats.

And when none sail you spell it out:
a plea for help across the beach
so pilots sighting turn to land
and soar you back to continents
or anywhere you might belong.

But now this moon, these crashing waves,
that famishing us castaways
confront with savage honesty
as notes we've curled in bottles hurled
drift distant toward uncertainty.

And who should read them, understand,
or swim from nowhere, take our hand?

Left answerless, you leave the shore
alone and floating as before
except you now entrust the flow
and navigate the vertigo
to steer outside the cryptic blue
affirming truths inside of you
commend a message all should hear:
we must survive and persevere.