An Elegy to an Anonymous Death

Life and death continue, even in paradise. Four days after we arrived in Key West, the man at the head of our pier died, sitting in his cockpit, under the stars. I do not know his name, although we had several conversations and petted his two dogs each time we passed. He was a disabled vetran, living alone on his boat, with the dogs for company. The day he died, a crusty sailor from a nearby boat walked into the dense srubbery and cut branches and flowers to place on his boat. Someone hung an American flag from his bow to honor him. That night, a fellow sailor snuck aboard his boat to turn on his navigation lights. So all night long, the green and red lights on port and starboard stayed lit.... lights meant to guide him home.