The King's Coat

To my mother, who always thought I could do it, but most especially to my father, Lt. Cmdr. Dewey Lambdin (USN):

• ‘Boot’ Seaman in 1930

• ‘Mustanged’ in 1941

• Died in line of duty, 1954

“So hush, for the wind’s his Lorelei

And he wants to hear her calling,

where the wave-tops flash

with the light of God,

in sparkling, salt-teared Mercy

for those who commit themselves

to The Deeps.”