POEMS: THE HARBOUR

THE HARBOUR

The sun’s peak

Frenzy post, lying

On open deck at anchor,

My head lolls

To the deep pulse of Ocean,

Along the water’s skin,

To the bay’s round

Breasts, twin

Sentinels at the harbour’s mouth

Where tongues of water lick

The teeth of rocks

White In the spitting

Foam. On the horizon,

The heavy-lidded sun,

The stirring moon,

Twin-eye–

Beams cross.

Light traipses

On the sky over-

Head, the hair

Of cloud spun

With sprinkled stars.

Warm currents fop

The sloop’s flanks, russet

Waters cradle gentle throbs.

Twi’-light

Bathes this landlocked ‘arbour.

Sheltered,

Safe I lie

From the mad rush of breakers for beyond

Stanley French