This wonderful montage was created for me by TUG,
who has followed my long, slow pilgrimage back
to the sea for several years now. Thank you, my friend.
She who speaks with ravens
and with doves,
who sings with wolves
ki-yi-ing in the rain,
her soul's refrain
is steady as raindrops on salal,
salt air and sunrise
over a silver sea,
waves undulating
to the rhythm of her heart,
her love as steadfast as the moon,
through all the heart-sore years
they've spent apart.
The ocean is her mistress,
delicate lick of foam
along a sandy shore,
miles of untouched beauty
stretching all before,
wild as the eagle,
soft as the dove, her love;
her mantra,
to return and leave no more.
I had written this poem before reading Brendan's challenge at Real Toads for Day 18: to write on a familiar theme, but turn it on its head and write from another perspective. So I tried it, with some difficulty, with this result:
The ghost of the Westerly
has always called her name
but Raven cautions:
do not play
the waiting game.
If you never can return
to the home for which you yearn,
the time that there is left
must move ahead.
Before you, not too far,
awaits your final resting bed.
If Raven quoth : "Nevermore!", in exile lost,
and I must pay in full the karmic cost,
my heart, as wild and constant, will remain,
though the Westerly will forever
call my name.
Like other refugees, I'll persevere,
although another pathway is unclear.
In exile, while I know where I belong,
I will continue counting out the hours,
remembering when all the wild was ours.
I'll sing my familiar until-next-time song,
my heartbeat and my love
stay just as strong.
[Had I known TUG was going to create the wonderful picture above, I would have worn less bulky clothing. I look like a small army, LOL. But he well knows my heart. He has caught my two loves: Pup and the beach, and all my longing for the wild.]
I love both pieces, Sherry. And you're beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with D, I love them both beautiful tributes,,,,
ReplyDeleteOh Sherry, you pull at my heart. Both are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThere is such a longing in your words. Even though we are so far apart, I feel it pulling at me. Hugs, my friend,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
I think we all belong in exile, though Sherry - it's where the light is brightest, and the shadows most deep, and where the spirits roam, unburdened by the brunt of human folly. ~
ReplyDeleteI really love the second one, not so much because the first isn't lovely, but the second one focusing on exile becomes so much more, like you have added a layer to the image... the word exile itself evokes so many other thoughts that make it stronger. It's like seeing the imagery of a Tarkovskij movie.
ReplyDeleteYour exile may be in the eyes of others...But importantly, to you, the sea and the wild are home. Both poems are so very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteA sweet pic--and lovely poems--agh. I feel in exile too--from myself--and was glad for the lessons of your poems. k.
ReplyDeleteBoth poems are beautiful, in their own unique and spiritual way. Would hard press, to say, which one is better. As for the photo, is gorgeous, Sherry, you're truly bless, to have a friend, like TUG.
ReplyDeleteI agree, both poems are lovely Sherry ~ Love this part best:
ReplyDeleteIn exile, while I know where I belong,
I will continue counting out the hours,
remembering when all the wild was ours.
Wonderful... what a treat :-)
ReplyDeleteZQ
You're so at home there! Beautiful picture collage and wonderful poetry, Sherry.
ReplyDelete