Elegy to the Open Sea

I never used to be so scared

of the open sea. I’ve seen

so many of my Joys disappear

over the horizon to die the slow death

in the fog or dashed against the rocks

like so many whales— shepherds

of those lost, deep places, beached

ragged-beating hearts, bleached

bone-white like secrets burning in the sun.

I’ve spent

so many of my Days in lighthouses

reaching out into the night. dimly groping,

calling them home. waiting.

hoping. watching the horizon,

the endless waves, the sky looming.