August 10, 2012
-
Ashes
Even now he tells himself
The soft days will come again
And soft air will flow once more across the island land
It will flow from beyond the barrier isles
Gliding in on dim whispers from the great ocean shelf
Where giant swarms of sea creatures are harvested and iced
This joyful breeze will float in - lathering the incremental
Caressing spiny ledges with its salty aromatic
Cooling city-spattered visitors and permanents alike
His heart will happily slow down
His blood will flow merrily through his essential vitals
It will be once more his time of substance
There will be nothing to do - to take care of - nothing
Except to fill this water-laden entity that is he and also us
With far-away cleansing nurtures of scented african deserts
Flowing across countless oceanic leagues
He will be again with loved ones
To breathe with tides
To take and eat from the bountiful sea
To simply and happily exist
But that was then
Now his universe has been switched off
Only a faint melody splashing on moonlit rock is heard
In that private place behind his brain
And Sleep is the Dust of Sleep
Forever
Comments (5)
i'm not sure what i think this means, but that hasn't stopped me from reading it over and over.
@Sadomasochistic_SLINKY - Thank you for your kind response... For almost 40 years my family and I lived on an island off the coast of Maine and on certain rare summer days especially after a big storm, winds would reverse their usual west to east flow and we would find african totems on our gravel beach... I am 87 years old now and my wife and I will be "ashes" soon and the urn will be wrapped in kelp and dropped in the sea in deep water by a young fisherman friend facing our beloved home...
@peterjamesmanos - with the story behind it, it makes sense to me now. that is lovely.
This was soul searing. I loved reading it and after the explanation you have given above in response to the reader's question, I feel so humbled by your presence on xanga. I am indeed honored to know you, and read your poetry.
Best regards to you.
Thank you Dr Z... I try to read all my friends on Zanga but it is difficult to post replies... and don't forget to use Thirty-Year shingles on that roof!
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