The Unpredictable Sea

A giant magnet for young and old Its many mysteries to unfold For dipping toes in ebb and flow Revealing wonders deep below Calm and still like mirrored glass Then raging wild a storm can blast Giving pleasure, causing grief Magnificent colour of Barrier Reef Tossing sails yet lapping the shore Sinking ships in times of war Sometimes dark, it’s strength foreboding Tempting too but fiercely goading A home to fish of stunning hue Reflecting the sky in shades of blue Underestimated in its power Challenging man oft forced to cower Innumerable colours of blue and green The prettiest shells you’ve ever seen Home to coral iridescent and bright Displays of foam in whirls of white Dashing the coast in waves of thunder Giving pleasure, then pulling you under A background for artists, a playground for tots Sometimes frightening, sometimes not Dividing the world in all its glory The source of many a heartfelt story Healing the soul when darkness calls Noisy too when seagulls squall Shattering lives with remorseless pressure Beckoning man to false endeavour A home to many all afloat Enormous tankers, a tiny boat Unforeseeable eddies and tides A gentle sail or risk-full rides Relentlessly breaking on distant shores Enticing man for evermore A means for adventure, for voyages afar Under sunny skies or a million stars An erratic, moody source of fear Taking lives once held dear A timeless home for hidden treasure For searching men, unequal measure Plentiful food for man and beast A meagre meal or a giant feast A workplace and a surfer’s delight A vast beyond - a beautiful sight A constant means for flight or flee The amazing, unpredictable sea