“ Time to go someplace not so crowded
with memories, someplace full of surprises”
– Destinations, Mervyn Taylor
What islanders own galore and take for granted
spare a thought it’s in short supply for dwellers
who know only sky slabs and elevators and don’t
understand how lines advancing quick . flesh
hollows find; this wanting something, work or wood
fire . like to stare at ~ step next flight to Montego Bay.
I promise stiffening not to sink in a chair and stare
at water. Then what’s the point? Going to cost no
matter what. And what happens when you grow
tired . Not sitting and staring? Then what?
Enough with the questions ! I’m heading out
for a swim before the night air gets colder; lucky
if net caught . finding something : cave paintings
pencilled on stomach walls; the ocean in and out
swells up nymph sites my camp too old for : turtle
shell place holdings cell count . all here still
as wings
dip ~ chill over views wave makers pitch ~ deep
search for servors . save
– W.W.
[In mem ~ Oliver Mtukudzi ~ 1952 – 1/2019 ~ chipping, Zimbabwe]
CHARON & QAT
A pebble-collector herself, Qat agreed:
A stone’s beauté lies in its staggered twitching,
Its slightest nicks dreaming of being full streams.
She saw the condition of ambitions achieved is
That they will never settle for themselves, no
Matter what proud ‘content’-text they might project,
To the world and themselves, as Sommet Final.
*SO BOTH Charon and Qat know they are no more
Or less self-satisfied than anyone else,
All of God’s creatures avidly insecure,
Their shared spirit as unstable as split-atom-dust.
(from “Charon’s Anchors” by Brian Chan)
FARJOURNEY CARIBBEAN 