The Cold Tap Sings

Recently I’ve been reading (and writing) about the sea with a view to a longer poem on this subject. Its working title is ‘Fathom’. Here’s a draft which may make the final cut, scribbled before a sunset last Saturday night.

***

‘Cross Section’

Is there more water
in this slice of sky
swarming with clouds
than in this slice of sea
teeming with breakers?

Like a leitmotif
passed between
two sections
of an orchestra
the white horses
echo
the mare’s tails
and
the mare’s tails
echo
the white horses
like a leitmotif
passed between
two sections
of an orchestra.

Is there more water
in this slice of sky
swarming with clouds
than in this slice of sea
teeming with breakers?