I live in a house by the sea
The lighthouse around the corner guides my way
While I drift away in a paper boat, the sun sets on the lost day
My journey to somewhere is short
And, when I return I watch you run towards me
In your hand, a gift of orange berries
Strung in a row
Tied tightly into a knot
The mountains turn to ashes
The hot sun will burn them to the ground
As I relive my journey
You sit me down on a concrete step
Stay still, stay quiet
Look up at the sky, you say
Streaks of coloured light reflect in your eyes
Aurora is dancing
Dawn is near
My eyes remain bright and open
Borealis – the north wind blows
It’s a warm and fierce wind
And in time
The string breaks
The berries fall to the ground
Scattered
Some intact
Others smashed
We gather them up
And together, we string them along
One by one
(A poem dedicated to L.G. Daniels)
words and image © 2013 ann ivy male
WOW!! Very nicely written and very thought provoking!!
Thanks Mari.
I wonder who is the “you” in the poem. Each time I read it I make a different guess. Who strings berries together for a gift? Who sits you down and instructs you to stay quiet. How did the string of berries get broken? It’s nice that you fix the string together. Too bad that some were smashed; that’s always what happens, isn’t it?
Well, I really like that the “you” is intriguing Judy and I’m pleased that you take away a different perspective each time you read it. I will have to get your take on that the next time we meet. Thanks for reading.