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The Bones Of The Earth Are The Waters Of The Sea (Poem)
When I was a child, I lived by the sea.
I swam in its waters and played on its shores.
Grey-bearded cypress trees and ancient oaks
Were my beloved friends,
And sea serpents taught me the beginnings of wisdom.
Now I live in the mountains far from any ocean.
I walk on their trails and gaze at their peaks.
Brightly garbed maples and hickory trees
Are my present companions,
And the bones of the earth counsel me on patience.
On a walk I picked up a stone and held it to my ear.
I did not hear the roar of vast waves.
But I did hear faint echoes of half-forgotten susurrations
Reminding me that I am loved.
The past is with us always.
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What I’ve Found (Poem)
When I was a child, I lived by the sea.
I swam in its waters and played on its shores.
Sometimes I would visit the sea serpents
Who lived hidden in the deep.
They told me many tales,
For they were griots, wise and fierce and ancient indeed.
Much of what they whispered
Has given me aid and comfort through the years.
But I have also learned this:
Even sea serpents can lead one astray.
Like all beings,
Sometimes they just make things up.
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What I Can Hear (Poem)
As a child I lived by the sea.
I swam in its waters and played on its shores.
I watched the birds write poetry in the skies,
Read stories left by crabs scuttling in the sand,
And was lulled by mingled songs of sun, waves, and wind.
When I drifted to sleep with salt lingering on my lips,
I was visited by sea serpents, the wisest denizens of the depths.
Their sibilant sagacity wove through my dreams,
Finally coming to root in my bones.
Now in my waning, I begin to understand.
Ancient laughter echoes through the years,
While the very particles of existence appear and disappear,
All joined in a dance.
