Albatross Susan McKeown I travelled, I kept watch for you over the ocean so wide through seasons I held out for you searching the starboard bow Those sailors I never paid much heed to them never held much by their tales in the evening they might toss you a look but you can't give a kiss without taking You sang me songs of sailors and sirens and petrels flew over we're far from the land when the wind came you held on like an albatross dashed we were whiplashed by the salty brine Like an anchor you clung to my neck Like an anchor shelter from the storm Like an anchor holding so hard onto me I cannot stay warm And I told you I would hold you when my arms were still sore but it's freezing and the beating of your wings and I just can't take anymore I watched the losing in your eyes and I saw your tear-stained face like a ghost like a promise