Ol’ Bluejacket Shanty

Poem

bodies bold upon the sun
I walk along the smoke of the sea
holding mirrors of gold glinting
reflection across currents of blueberry water,
an invention of the first tide‘s retreat
to mind intention in the east as isles pause to drink, downing a solstice deep; a breath of its salted breeze

solace undressed and sweet while west winds sneeze
challenging trees trained in tropic sleep to mistake a wake of lonely bottles
containing drops of her taste; sun kissed blueberry skin, 
floating up to see!

a spell cast like rod and lines to catch relief in the face of thunder and the kracken’s hunger rising from deepest league

a storming behemoth to greet sailor’s defeat 
its depth, its great eye, oh its lack of god 
the breath beneath its scream 
rancid and sun hot the size of ships upon black tongue; a final face of myth 
forever sung-
O mad captain’s prophecy! 
closer now and wide New England eyes, thee well up and stand to leap 

as bodies bold upon the sun
I walk along the smoke of the sea
holding mirrors of gold glinting
reflection across currents of blueberry water
while swimming beasts smile to the salting of the meat