My rushing sigh
Flows in and out
Like the ocean surf
That writes in the dark
On reams of slimy kelp
With the ancient ink
Of primeval octopi.
It’s as if the storming,
Obsidian face of waves
Is a mirror for my own
Inner workings and words
That I wish to speak
But never do for fear
Of being misunderstood.
The gray-gold skies
Stare down and sharpen
The rising furrows, wrinkles
Of aged waters deceiving
My gaze from looking inward,
From watching and waiting
For the quiet constellations,
The stars, whose purpose
Guides me down the ways
Of all the shattering billows
Till perhaps I start to see again
Through the mist and spray of
Other ships plunging forth,
Following their lines of longitude.
No single map will demonstrate
Where they’ll weigh their anchors
And where I’ll chart my course—
But I cannot doubt as I breathe,
Watching the clouds that dance
Above; my desire to voyage brings me
Here—and points beyond the world’s end.
Dwelling deep in the forests of New England, Graham spends most of his time reading, taking walks with his dog, and learning new and interesting things (and reveling in cooler, more temperate climates). Born and raised in the Boston area, Graham was homeschooled from an early age. After high school, he proceeded to get a bachelor’s in Literature from Patrick Henry College in Northern Virginia. He currently resides in the Boston area while pursuing a master’s in Education at Gordon College, steeping in the rich history of his home turf and a continued exploration of literature from across the world. He says you should read Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country and Chaim Potok’s The Chosen, because they are incredible novels. Also, read Robert Frost.
Graham, this is wonderful. Just your simple way with words and the gentle sway added so much to the message itself. After reading it once, I feel as if I need to go through it again, just to soak in one more time its beauty.
If your goal was to wash readers with a sense of peace, you achieved it.
Mm, I agree with Libby. Simply beautiful. The swaying motion of the poem was entrancing.
This poem is stunning. I felt connected to the poem at once. It did feel like I was being rocked on a boat. Great work!
I cannot express how much I love this poem!! I’m printing this out and adding it to my poetry favorites collection. 🙂
What a lovely poem! I relate very much to it.