Millions of Shipwrecks

are under the sea,
some in the shallows,
      some so deep 
even the burrowing fish 
know them not.

When, at the end of the long pier
you meet the rail 
            the flimsy rail,
that separates you from all the drowned,

do you see
the storms, bombs, shells, or kraken
that took them down,
or do you see the leaping dolphin,
the sky-blue infinity
upon a gleaming silver coin?

Do you imagine 
the sunlight rebounding off
the curly legends of mariners,
tattoos nibbled   and yet talking still
of the last and first foot they put
upon this watery space,

where even the familiar
is alien.  If you follow their paths down
to where the devil dances
        in his fishbowl

(the one you smashed with a flying elbow,
just an accidental jab
that took the wind out of your world
until now),
do that, then never
go upon the sea again.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Rodrigues Avatar
August 11, 2020 at 12:07 PM
Curious the shipwrecks...remembrance of those known and unknown sailors.
De Beaulieu Avatar
August 11, 2020 at 10:06 AM
Hello Eric Ashford, shipwrecks are in lakes oceans and seas. They have an interesting history from the past. Enjoy your day my friend.
De Beaulieu Avatar
August 12, 2020 at 10:43 AM
Hello Eric,Yesterday you felt like a wreck! Something must have gone wrong yesterday. i hope you are feeling better now. your friend Darlene enjoy your day.
Ashford Avatar
August 11, 2020 at 10:31 AM
Hi Darlene, yep there are wrecks everywhere. Yesterday I felt like one of them. Not today though. Have a good one and thank you. e
Pigeon Tart Avatar
August 11, 2020 at 8:58 AM
I love the way you do that.
Ashford Avatar
August 11, 2020 at 10:30 AM
:-) Thanks PT!
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