Salt and water

Salt and water wreak corrosion
of every surface they can reach,
but they don’t cause a big explosion,
they sneak some colour in or bleach.

Not repentant of aggression
saltwater spray with wind is blown.
The caring sailors’ one obsession
is to fight it to the bone.

Every day they scrub their decks
with fresh water from a hose
not leaving any little specks.
And this effort clearly shows.