Seaward and to the west liners swam,
treading black water past their beaten sides
until nothing was left but a thin white wave that dipped away behind them.

King Isaac watched the third fleet
as it vanished on the horizon.
And while he stood
the dark waves ebbed at his feet,
dosing his leather toes
in the complications of their leave.

Seaward, heavy onward
Strong aromas of worriment caught King Isaac
and dragged him to his kingdom's charred table of insults.
'It is the third that will bring our first and second home,'�
the crowned man shouted.

Scents turned to ashes
that blew away in fluttering flags of smoke.
An orange sun melted below the world and rose again,
pale yellow high above.
It rounded its prey.
King Isaac watched his closing attacker
as his brave men boarded the fourth fleet.
'I shall accompany these ships in confidence that all shall be brought back to this land.'�

Seaward, steady forward
White waves dispersed around King Isaac's fourth fleet,
his castle lost behind them in the fair cloak of sky
that embroidered the calming sea.
'What lays there?'� King Isaac asked
the scrawny captain.

The captain placed a telescope to his lid
and studied the objects in the far waters.
'Your ships,'� the captain whispered to King Isaac.
'How many?'� bellowed the King.
The captain pulled the telescope closer to his eye.
'Three fleets your highness.'�

The cloud floated fast towards
the motionless fleets of prior.
Once near the King fell faint
as red water washed over his leather toes.
Pink waves jumped and dipped behind his ships,
rusted black waves engulfed them.

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