Sea–Theme
Awash the rocks with sea–green kelp –
Sea–gulls’ beaks yellow with sun
Glitter against sky and cloud.
Wild ferns shake gently to and fro –
High into hills and faraway
Wanders a moorland deep with mystery –
The ocean frames it all, its movements
Captured forever by the watching Moon;
Whose white, long fingers like stems of
Shimmering flowers, touch wave and foam
To vibrate as a salt-filled pulse –
To quicken to life each sand-like seed
And then to free the overflow of
Tiny fish and crabs and watery-spiders,
To speed them all into sea–shells
Made of pearls.
Sea–bright, sea–song, sea–magic –
From day, till night
And thro’ the evil storm,
What organisms thrive inside your womb –
From your darkness what births and death –
What monsters and half-grotesques –
Guide me across those pink-topped rocks,
Bathe me with sea–foam, let me glitter as
White-gull near blue fresh air.
Let me imagine sea–gods loving sea–girls
Deep in sand, covered with jewels, unknown
On this desolate land.
Come, take me over waves bound for shore
Far from the roar of tainted cities –
Overwhelm me with sea–might and sea–saints,
Let me feel the passion of huge, endless waves –
And then the relief of sleep near warmed rocks –
I bend myself towards that perfect breeze,
Then on my knees face eternity –
Deep-sea voices call –
The evening star shines above –
Calm small bay, where hidden caves
Keep the voices’ echo’s clear and loud –
Listen, hear the sea voices singing –
Songs of greeting –
Bright, lovely voices –
Vivacious in their offering –
Flow with sea–words –
Nothing flounders –
All is for the hour –
Special, deep, proud –
Rise with the wave, pale, white Moon –
Transform what was day to night –
Momentary in your perfect timing –
And yet everlasting –
Each sea–bird to its nest –
Each sea–ghost to his haunting –
Each wreath of sea–grown flowers
A garland for the dead –
To tame this ocean in the name of man
Who can? Who can?
There is a trace of footprints in the sand
And beyond the cliffs if you care to stare
Long into space, liquid sea–letters
Will appear written on air –
Read you first sea–poem –
And find the soul’s ancestry –
Overflowing on the sea–face smile –
Then quietly walk away,
Leave the sea–theme
To the meeting of those whose kingdom
Is the Moon and night and splendid dreams.
Shänne Sands
from the selection The Silver Hooves published by FootSteps Press
#poetry