a gift for the sea

there was emptiness inside
it grew from the start taking all
piece by piece
the emptiness did not hurry
it did not cease

each step was a step toward
a complete emptiness
stillness from vigor
an ignorance from knowledge
that cut deeply

and then left of the land
and its heartbreaking toil
its god and its devil
and each backbreaking day
the sweat of the night

the wood spoke of dream
the tools came alive in the hands
formless formed
machines acknowledged command
and the talent lead

and 30 years suddenly behind
the wars the death the fear
coffee and cigarettes
standing the mid-watch
the North Atlantic gale

buried on land
a meaningless gesture
the heart and soul already lost at sea
a ghost in search of history
upon an unwritten page

10/17

jeg.