Saturday, August 30, 2008

Islands


I.
the islands
long and grey as animals
still
alive

air bright and wet
water silver as mercury

sliced by the keel


II.
stretched on the bow
hot as a mirror
you take my hand

you open your mouth to laugh
the islands laugh
for the last time
past your even white teeth


Poem from 1988 - for BDR.
Photo: Palm in Port Charlotte, Fla.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is very powerful. I found myself asking so many questions by the time I reached the last line. Wow! Profound.

Anonymous said...

You wrote that poem? It's beautiful! Very moving. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Anonymous said...

Wow.

I love your blog!

Anonymous said...

air bright and wet.

love it.



ps have you heard of Swoon? I have her work on my blog today. I figured you'd know all about her.

Anonymous said...

This is a great poem. Have you published it, beyond your blog?

Anonymous said...

Dennis loves the picture. Dennis loves orange.

Steve Reed said...

I just realized I never answered Tut's comment. Yes, this poem was published, in a literary journal called "Tin Wreath" in 1990.

Steve Reed said...

See the next day's post for more info:
http://shadowsteve.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/painting.html