It was an ordinary day

Spent at the beach

The tingle of the cold sea spray

And the sound of laughing children

Headed into the water

Was a man unnoticed

Alongside him stood his daughter

Eager for a swim

This was the last stop on their trip

Before going home

Time for one last dip

Before they go

They had had a long day

Full of excitement and fun

But as the sun faded away

The memories stayed fresh in their minds

There was the necklace of pearls

The girl gave to her mother

But as the water swirled

The memory seemed to fade away

The father thinks of the rose

He gave to his wife before leaving home

He had used one to propose

Ten years ago to this day

But look a bit closer

Something just isn’t right

They’re moving a lot slower

Than others of their size

Thunk, thunk, goes the weight at their feet

Dragging behind them

Their steps just slightly offbeat

Their footprints lingering in the sand

Less and less sun above their heads

Deeper and deeper

Into the sea they tread

While the sun sets further into the sea

They’re in over their heads

Their weight dragging them down

It’s a weight made of lead

Like an anchor to a boat

But look a bit closer

Something just isn’t right

Give the shape of the anchor a once over

And you’ll notice it’s quite unique

This anchor leaves scars

On any vessel it’s tied to

The anchor is shaped like a star

A star with six points  

Holding their breaths

Deeper and deeper

Dragged down to the depths

Closer to the gatekeeper of the heavens

Like a broken clock

Their heartbeats seem to stop

Tick tock, tick tock

Two lives worth of seconds off the clock

The daughter thinks of the sweets

Still left uneaten on the shore

The fruit she’ll never get to eat

As the water drowns her lungs

All the man sees now is the red of his daughter’s dress

Or was it the blood of his relatives

That was making such a mess

Of the once clear water

It wasn’t their fault

That their star turned into an anchor

While their lungs filled with salt

Their devotion to their faith remained

Their anchors dragged them down

To the doors of heaven

And with nothing but each other around

They descended into darkness