The Sailor Who Fell From The Rigging

The Sailor Who Fell From The Rigging
Sheenagh Pugh

He's a bone-hoard, laid
 golden on the table, 
 piecemeal（零碎的） , dislocated（脱位的）

in the naval¹ hospital
 at Haslar, this casualty
 from Nelson's day. Skull²

a cup, eye-sockets empty 
 bezels（斜垫面） for aquamarine（海蓝宝石） 
 or jet. The carved vertebrae,

links in a polished chain
 that has come unstrung
 since, long ago, a man

fell, his limbs flailing³,
 in that last instant
 when limbs would do his bidding,

before every joint⁴
 of arms and legs splintered
 on the deck; made a patient

of a seaman⁵. His scarred
 bones were knitting together,
 twisted, no doubt, awkward,

when the usual fever
 sank him in the dark.
 He is turned to treasure,

the ribs⁶' symmetrical fretwork（浮雕细工） ,
 the pendant（垂饰） branches
 of phalanges, the serpentine⁷（蜿蜒的） torc

two clavicles make. Riches
 beyond price, broken past
 restoring, such choice pieces
 as cannot be replaced.