I have become
All things unattractive
where once a jaw
Now a roll
Where once a crouch
Now a pouch
Where once a leap
Now a creep
Lonely as a lighthouse keeper --
Third generation keeper that is --
Perturbed at day and
night fretting against lifestyle I inherit
Witness many shipwrecks
On stones of sand and rocks
Hidden midst panes
of light and ‘midst uncertain sea life
Where once sea froze
Was it safe to walk under
Relying might we with what we chose
to use boots as boats
Frozen toe
and guts Alone
as a wind gust
Nature christened "Bad Temperament" safe
to christen also Other souls
letting go
Bodies mashed 'tween wall
Of water and toe of tower warnings
turn in bearings to signal friendlies journeys
Friendlier and friendliest peers
Neighbors look into vapors
stare at sea wave bombs --
Some frightened; some remain calm --
And ask ‘What can we do?’
We built a pier
To tie me froze boat
We sank down below water line
And towed
pulling lines in towed more
Till we froze
and float
Yet yonder,
at tide line
Dry patches pavement
Scant puddles
left Like toed nails
appointment
Against climates addled temperament
On piers lay soldiers’ wives
at shore children’s wails
Crying, bereft against torrents of ignoble swales
Uncertain rigors prevents
Eternal pathos to prevail though
abundant trouble
To die, turn up one’s toes
A chap should be what he can do!
And not as he's told.

PD / 24 Jan 06