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St. Elmo’s Fire on the S.S. EXXON Houston, 1969

St. Elmo’s Fire is a mesmerizing phenomenon caused by the atmosphere being charged with static electricity at sea. I witnessed this near Florida, just before a thunderstorm. The air was so charged that I could feel it, making the hair on my skin stand up. As an ordinary seaman on bow watch, the atmosphere was eerie.

The 3rd Mate on watch called out to me over the bow loudspeaker, urging me to turn around. When I did, I saw a blue haze of light enveloping the ship’s masts and the house on the stern. It was both beautiful and eerie. Ahead, we were sailing into a thunderstorm, with lightning illuminating the clouds, causing them to glow. The storm was about 10 miles away, and the soft, long rumble of thunder followed the lightning flashes by about a minute.

Apart from the distant storm, the sea was silent, with only the sound of the ship cutting through an almost perfectly calm sea. As I held the bow flag staff, the blue light of St. Elmo’s Fire began to creep over my body, stopping only when I let go of the staff. The entire event lasted about five minutes before it vanished suddenly. A rumble of thunder, now only 10 seconds after the lightning, signaled the fast-approaching storm.

Fortunately, I had my wet weather gear with me and donned my slicker. My experience on the bow during the storm is another story entirely.

Poem

A mesmerizing glow at sea,

 Charged with static electricity.

 Near Florida, before the storm,

 The air so charged, it felt warm.

Hair stood up, skin tingled tight,

 As an eerie watch took flight.

 The 3rd Mate’s call, a voice so clear,

 “Turn around, there’s something here.”

A blue haze wrapped the masts and stern,

 Beautiful, eerie, a sight to learn.

 Ahead, the storm, lightning’s glow,

 Clouds lit up, a distant show.

Ten miles away, thunder’s soft song,

 A minute’s wait, then rumbles long.

 Silent sea, the ship’s calm cut,

 Through the stillness, in a rut.

St. Elmo’s Fire crept over me,

 Holding the flag staff, I could see.

 Five minutes passed, then it was gone,

 Thunder closer, storm moved on.

Wet weather gear, slicker donned,

 The storm’s tale, another bond.

 A seaman’s watch, a story told,

 Of St. Elmo’s Fire, brave and bold.