May 22, 2006 - Dry Tortugas, Florida

Passage

We are leaving
these turquoise crystal waters
fulfilled of brittle coral and yellow bumble free
zebra striped fish.
These moon kissed rocks where
a woman’s love envelops absolute,
a mother’s word the land’s
sole unbroken law.

We are sailing from
these tin roofed houses
wearing layered coats of watermelon mango
banana peeling paint.
This sun worn dock where the old pair rests
caned limbs against the crumbling seawall
arguing, laughing, silent, but every day
huddled there together since the place began -
since their spines began, in unison,
in anticipation, curving back down to meet
the dusted earth.

We are cutting through
these emerald sparkling waves
slicing into pools of whirling forever
unknowable sapphire depths.
Embattled sea where the forbidden island lurks
veiled in looming thunderheads as we
pass her, marooned beauty - perishing but for
one man’s death.

We will keep watch until
that gray rushed current
sweeps us full of obligations
to cold familiar ways
because we are going home
where fathers’ words are bent to suit agendas
and the zebra striped pavement
tells us where to walk.

posted by Mahi at 5:22 PM  

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