By it dosent matter
Date: 2 October 2000

lovers embrace

an L.S.T.
landing ship tank
over 500 ft in length
yet slender in width
tons of hardened metal
flexing with the waves
its purpose?
it lands itself dry on a beach
slowly massively parting the sea
cutting a path
slicing the beach
incredible  weight
silent as death
cleaving the sand
driving its length
slow and slower
foot after foot
pushing yards
and again more yards
deeper yet deeper still
almost unending in its push
to land hundreds of marines
on enemy soil
slow so slow now
it seems it has stopped
but yet deeper still it pushes
massive twin props
and 6 powerful diesel alcos
all on line
to push this massive shaft
further yet
then at last it shudders and stops
a large landing ramp
extends from its bow
to off load its cargo
massive m1 tanks
rumble on the ramp
churn up the beach
marines swarming
gathering gear
then a silent exodus
to enemy ground
the ramp retracts
the ship prepares
to slowly strip itself away
from where it went aground
water from aft churns boils roils
as the massive ship
slowly ever so slow retreats
its load spent
its mission ended
the sand  fights to hold it
in a lovers embrace
but in the end its the oceans again
leaving behind
a silent pristine beach



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