Click ‘play’ to hear me read this poem. Or right-click ‘save as’ to download an MP3.
Her fingers tracing mine Lily danced me out of the garden those green eyes brimming lively with purest abandon Then barefoot on the boardwalk her summer dress riding high she leapt onto the jetty and gestured to the sky
We let our tanned legs hang below as we bottomed up the bottle the air was hot and heavy the sea around us peaceful There was lust upon our minds as a veil upon a bride the deepest searing truths politely shot between our eyes
And no man could deny us loose and open all the time our hands and fingers; wanderers tongues locked in a rhyme By the spit between those kisses our burning lips were sewn her dress was barely there my body carved from stone
With each nail driven into skin I felt a clapping thunder the temple tapestry was tearing as she pierced my thin armour A melody sung upon her voice a lyric loudly grows I’d have gladly turned my back on all that I held close
We could have traveled every sea taking turns to lead the way if only if only she’d have asked me if only I’d thought to stay…
Dusk light falling on the harbour the day became a dream with toes curled round the boards she danced me to my feet in one movement I was shirtless in another she was naked a smiling glance was shared as we leapt with fingers knitted
Our kisses painted salty lungs burning between breaths the solution we had longed for as our bodies coalesced We swam until our limbs ached then floated side by side in the moonlit wideness of her eyes; another world, I spied
I was so thirsty for the moment and drank it all too quickly my mind got blurred and cloudy my greatest drunken folly Too naive to know the value of the treasure in my grip like sand through careless fingers I stood and watched it slip
There was water on three sides and only one path back to land but somewhere on that journey I somehow lost her hand Now, I wonder if she thinks of us a moment spared for all we shared does she ever sit upon that jetty singing of a parallel despair
We could have traveled every sea wild adventure every day if only if only she’d have asked me if only I’d thought to stay
If only I’d had the wisdom to stay…
[2020]
Extra special thanks for reading, I know it’s a long one. 🙂
O child, do not hasten to drop anchor I hope you live so many nights lost at sea or diving free loving by the light of the moon forever was never the point
You must not miss those smiles as wide as silver sands And kisses hotly dripping like the candle you might write by in some foreign hotel room
If you should meet them out there on your journey (and you should, you should…) I hope the sirens sing you songs of salacious shipwreck and fleshy feasts upon the rocks
If you should meet them (and you must, you must) Take those chances don’t deny this life let it be painted in such vibrant colours
Let them ruin you a while let them wreck you for a spell then piece yourself together and wind up more complete O, and tell them I say ‘hi’
Go chasing honesty, equality give and take, live wild, love free take care and move respectfully remain open to all that comes your way forever was never the point
O, they will sing some of your best lines into you There are many poems waiting You can dine upon those memories once you’ve crossed the seesaw of all your time
While you’re young with no one who depends upon then have your fun, go chase the sun Forever was never the point of life…
Calling wisdom to see through all the horse shit of your flimsy words Those jelly-limbed actions flailing so selfishly and blindly out in front of me I’m calling wisdom…
Calling wisdom to untangle all the wires of your dangling contradictions Cut through the paper masks of all your posturing that you’re completely lost in I’m calling wisdom…
Calling wisdom to cast a dim light on your thinking What train of thought you caught to get to here These decided sidings of this line’s end I’m calling wisdom
Calling wisdom… to map a human sense of things the fucked foundation you’ve been building on is cratered and crumbling in upon us and burning bricks and buried bones are all that I can know now I’m calling wisdom…
Calling wisdom… to put in place a forest of words between us brush blooming plants to hide the muddy path that we spun down senseless and scared-shitless and because you never did I’m calling wisdom…
The Lighthouse 