The Blue Hole

I stood above the bottomless hole A little way from the brim And saw its waters, menacing, cold Blue too when sun was dim Away behind the Orange Grove church Where rocks give way to swamp A power silent at me did lurch My sweating hands very cramp I struggled to look away from it The water's blue seduction The presence of an awesome spirit Pulling me for destruction My father warned me I should not go Let curiosity dry But stories I heard tugged at me so Father's wish I did defy For I am Maroon too like them all Like Reddicas who dived in Left in spring and stayed until the fall Grand uncle forgive my sin For the lore told of you like sweet tropes Each myth your legend more swell Great seer, I bring my heart and its hopes To learn the place where you dwell But all I saw was picture of sky And a blue malignant eye A silence where no winds ever sigh And sudden awe - I could die They said I should hear the sea's deep call Or the earth's belly yearning Feel, but all there was my fear to fall And blue hole without meaning