The thunderclap <br />of fireworks <br /> <br />breaks over <br />the night's headland <br /> <br />as if to hearld <br />the real storm <br /> <br />that thunders & lightnings <br />San Luca's feastday. <br /> <br />All night <br />the storm prowls <br /> <br />our little balcony <br /> <br />shivering the shutters <br /> <br />demanding to be <br />let in. <br /> <br />We, all <br />at sea <br /> <br />cuddle <br />closer <br />(closer still) <br /> <br />until morning bells <br />peal with sunshine <br /> <br />the day blessed <br />with the sun's holy heat <br /> <br />...our miraculous love. <br /> <br /> <br />****** <br />San Luca is the patron saint of Praiano where we were cuddled together <br /> <br />******* <br /> <br />And then again the same experience just coming in at a different angle and the whole emotional trajectory and imagery changes to produce the landscape of this poem. <br /> <br />****** <br /> <br />YOU AGAIN <br /> <br />Your summer dress <br />comes to rest <br /> <br />upon the balcony <br /> <br />hung up on a thin <br />wire hanger <br /> <br />(an exotic bird) <br /> <br />it cries for your body <br />weeps at being <br /> <br />parted from you <br />& your curves <br /> <br />a pool of tears <br />collects at its hem <br /> <br />as longingly it dreams of <br />the touch of your skin <br /> <br />asleep now <br />in the sun. <br /> <br />Later that evening <br />frightened by the approaching storm <br /> <br />it tries to escape <br />the clamour of its hanger <br /> <br />almost flies off <br />beyond the reach of my hands <br /> <br />run away to sea <br />seeking for further horizons. <br /> <br />I calm it <br />tame its panic <br /> <br />fold it tenderly <br /> <br />carry it like a dreaming <br />child <br /> <br />lay it to rest <br />at the foot of the bed <br /> <br />where all night long it sleeps <br />at your feet <br /> <br />awaiting your footstep <br /> <br />the sunshine <br />of being <br /> <br />you <br />again.<br /><br />Dónall Dempsey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/we-all-at-sea/
