Poseidon, God of sea and storm, came slowly from the setting sun,

To Tampa, rattling raiment of the lights of Men o'er her skyline, as if through the gray morn, rode upon the sea some shining yellow dunn

And said, "I am that God to whom you bid

Go watch the roads between the Everglades and the tide,

But now I have no need to watch it more."

Then Tampa's denizens dashed evacuation to the rocks,

And raising arms all, rattled with fear's cast dye,

Parted freedom her lips with a loud sudden cry.

Yet Lieutenant Dan, famed vagabond of the city, stared steely,

Within his fragile little boat,

To ride the storm, in God's own Grace, and do battle with a Sea-God.

That God of the storm-tossed Ocean stared upon the tent-dwelling TikToker's face and said,

"No man alive, no man among the dead,

Has won the peace his watery chariots of battle bring,

In single combat-

So yield!"

"But if your Oceanic armies comes home triumphing

Why must you sow such fear and shake the palms and bushes from foot to crown?"

Thereon Poseidon shook the more and with a great gust of wind, cast him down

Upon the white boat-deck floor, and cried his word:

"With my legions o'er the waves is one sweet-throated like a bird."

"You dare me to my face," cied Dan with prideful bum's pomp, and thereupon

Dan smote the harsh breeze with clenched fist,

Stared on the mournful and stormy wonder of his eyes,

Even as Summer upon the ancient skies,

And pondered on the glory of his days;

And all around the human tongue told his praise,

And Poseidon, wrathful God of the Sea,

With his own scornful winds and waters that day, touched and lifted this mortal's legacy.

At last Dan spoke, "Some man has made

His evening fire amid the leafy shade.

After long fighting in Tampa's swollen bay,

Poseidon spoke aloud to the ne'er-do-well.

"The dooms of men are hidden even from God's face,"

Again the fighting sped,

But now the war-rage in Lieutenant Dan again as fire awoke,

And through that new blade's guard the old blade broke,

And pierced him.

"Speak before your breath is done."

"Lieutenant Dan am I, mighty Tampa's son."

"I put you from your pain. I can no more."

While day its burden on to evening bore,

With head bowed on his knees upon the boat Dan stayed;

Then Poseidon sent that sweet-throated nymph daughter,

And she, to win him, his blood-matted hair caressed;

In vain her arms, in vain her soft white breast.

Then Poseidon, the subtlest of all the oldest Gods,

Ranking his nautical battalions around him ten by ten,

Spoke this prophecy: "Lieutenant Dan will dwell there and brood

For three days more in dreadful quietude,

And then arise, and raving slay us all.

Chaunt in his ear delusions magical,

That he may fight the horses of the sea."

The Sea-Legions took them to their mystery,

And chaunted for three days.

Lieutenant Dan stirred,

Stared on the horses of the sea, and heard

The chariots of battle and his own name cried;

And fought with the invulnerable tide.