Paul Pfleuger, Jr.


a ship is drifting
out on open water
on fire and adrift
an abandoned cargo ship
still stranded at sea
in the Atlantic Ocean 
the vessel set ablaze
luxury cars on fire
reported to be ablaze
an estimated 4,000 cars
full of Porsches adrift
Volkswagen and luxury cars
going up in smoke
Porsches VWs and Bentleys 
Lamborghini Porsche and Audi
Porsche Bentley and Lamborghini
Audi Lamborghini Porsche Bentley
carrying certain Porsche vehicles 
plumes of white smoke
billowing from the vessel
on fire and drifting
without a crew floating
the crew cleared out
its crew of 22
left the ship unmanned 
left unmanned and drifting


*****


now ablaze and adrift
lost merchandise at sea
went up in flames
cars up in smoke
on a burning ship
luxury cars left adrift
abandoned and left afloat
customers would be affected
consumers expressed their sadness
customers expressed their disappointment
there is no word
it remains too early 
to confirm what occurred
dealers are reaching out
reaching out to customers
dealers and affected customers
the specific brands affected
there’s no word yet
thousands of luxury cars
carrying Porsche and Volkswagen
Porsche Audi and Lamborghini
Bentleys Porsches and Volkswagens
Porsches caught on fire
its crew abandoned ship
it continues to burn
ablaze with little hope


*****


smoke can be seen
the burning cargo ship
thousands of new cars
full of luxury cars	
cars left to burn
Audis Porsches Lamborghinis VWs
Volkswagen Audi Porsche Bentley
Porsches Bentleys and VWs
Audi Lamborghini Volkswagen brands
everything is on fire
its cargo in flames
from bow to stern
the ship was left
burning in the ocean
vehicles left to burn
Porsches left to burn
abandoned by the crew
to escape the fire
and evacuate the vessel
the crew was rescued
as the ship drifts
abandoned and left afloat
goodbye to luxury cars
certain death by fire
officials are still confused
it’s still a mystery


*****

Paul Pfleuger, Jr. lives and works in Chiayi, Taiwan. His poetry has appeared in several anthologies and in print and online journals and zines. He is the former co-editor of R'r online journal and is the author of A Zodiac, released by Red Moon Press.

 
 

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