Waiting To Be Nothing

Returning from Bombay-

I grew restless

there were islands still to wear

Strange children in the

salt and waves rolling in the pause

 

some nights I hesitate

A mariner more than others

I see them as they are

Mean and meant for higher seas

 

if not the ships at storm than who are we

If not the old oak and fear casting land onto hemisphere

Who are we…

if not to sea than who are we to speak of depth again

 

days and days I burn-

shallow pockets and spare loose smiles

how long has it been since the innocence has felt so honest in these hands

 

build me a ship made of bone and

I will sail you to life's highest peek

Build it of stone and

I will port you in the wicked briar

or set you on the bridge of hell and hide

Christ held from blood stains, thorn and lies

 

build me a ship

where the elders curse their sleep in dreams of whiskey and wine

here I'll declare the anchor set

a boarder of both bottle and sky

 

here I will live my crowded lives 

a leper to the cavern's mind

the end to a sentence that once the mighty handed had regard

 

I will free the stars with my lungs

lanterns off the port

a totem to the reckless in this life

 

and it will be here where the branch stands beneath me

It will be here that I will count the rest of my days 

let Buddha weep his beads in silence

and the fire crackle prayers one by one

 

O how I’ll grow my nothing day by day

my freedoms bow to storm

 

lightning is the harbor I have set with shallows made of fleet

the pace of night with heaven’s gale in glance

is where I stand

casting shackles out to sea

alive in what will live

waiting to be nothing

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Many times lately I've read your poems & I'm not following the storyline very easily, but I'm prompted to imagine a whole plethora of ideas from your words. This poem is very different than those other experiences. Here you tell a cohesive storyline that I can follow easily. I love the way your mood seems to harken back to old times on the sea, yet your storytelling also has a modern feel. You are very talented, when it comes to painting metaphors that reflect many realistic aspects of adventuring thru life (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

No wonder Ive been walking around neverland for like a decade now...wondering why there was never anyone here...i guess I slept through the destination change...now I gotta go and build a different ship...riptide or is it rolltide...aw hell ...im flaoting away in my pirouette...

[Perdition]

Man! They gave you some good drugs didn't they ?lol. Build the ship of words and I will sail you to the coves of Perdition and back. Welcome home Queen..you were missed by far too many including myself for such a tiny thing...huge spirit I'm guessing..go figure?

[Onlyme]

A wonderful descriptive poem that really understands and relates to life and living. How it's a constant ebb and flow, just like the oceans. And we are boats, cast upon these waves. And we have to weather, each and every storm and calm seas, that come near us all. And basically, take each and every moment in time. As it comes along. And be grateful for what we do have. No matter what. As that is reality and life. A sailor of our own ship. That we steer and ahead which every direction we choose and please.

[Perdition]

That each and every moment seems to be calling as of lately..I wonder what spark ignited that universe into motion? Either way I'll follow the course and thank you so much for stopping to read. We are indeed in the moment aren't we?

[Onlyme]

That is so very true. We are indeed living in the moment.

[lightsong]

I think it's better if we have a session about this, it's not fair that You write bringing many thoughts to my mind then at the end I have to do the hard work by collecting them lol

who are we but traveler in this life, what is the Sea if not the source ( yes I once wrote about it ) where we dare to drift our spirits to dance with its waves, high and low... just like life, where we dare to dream on, and through it... pondering with our minds to "forbidden" places, the suffering and pain, the injustice and cruelty we witness in this world, we free it all, as we look up, raise up, aiming "up"... grow and expanding with no boundaries, step by another, one after one we learn how to be larger than anything, limitless nothing... we don't need to die to be like that, we only need to be really "free".

amazing and deeply profound my friend, again the personal touch to it adds more speciality to it, and in this huge storm here, perfect read for me, Mr. Ocean~

[Perdition]

Let's make it a group session so that we can actually get a huge hug going on this okay,,lol. Thank you for being that guardrail that helps me see that somewhere, somehow, someone is tending to the end of my screams. Hahaha. I think the only thing profound is when it touches down into someone else hands and then much like an awareness it becomes a consciousness hard to ignore and perhaps who knows...maybe someone is listening on the other end..maybe not, but at least we can look up or down over the edge. Now avast ye scoundrel... hoist the mainsails lest the wind be off our bow and not starboard as we intend.
I'll let ye set the course as the Captain has obviously gone quite mad at sea...Wonderful review and thoughts Light..Thank you as always.

[lightsong]

I love the idea of the group session, and I imagine a huge hug will be released from there into the world ;)

guardrail? mmm though a metallic one would be stronger, but I still prefer to be a wooden one if You don't mind :) I believe there is someone(s) listing to You on the other end, even on the other far coast from where You stand, maybe You are even echoing their own thoughts :) :) nice idea if You think about it again and again :)

Smile, scream and write my Ocean friend :)

[Perdition]

A "catcher in the rye" none the less be it a metallic or a wooden one ...I will as it is a very nice idea indeed and these are the changing waters we have deliberated.

[lightsong]

"catcher in the rye" I like! use it in Your next piece ;)

[Perdition]

lol..I think Mr. Salinger might have a word or two to say about that..but perhaps. :)

[lightsong]

I will call him up there and make sure he doesn't mind ;)

[Shweta]

Hey, What a write! You have this knack of taking the reader drift into another world.. If I have to pick specifically one then I might not do justice quoting only a few lines here, yet;

"if not the ships at storm than who are we;
shallow pockets and spare loose smiles";
and the fire crackle prayers one by one;
I will free the stars with my lungs
lanterns off the port
a totem to the reckless in this life"
I would quote these..

My words won't do enough justice to the praise I hold for your write..

Keep charming us with your writes

[Perdition]

You are so kind and now you see where the sleeves would burst into flames. hahaha. Thank you so much for your kind review Schwetz as always and I am so glad to have your insights as well. Happy Holidays and I'll do my best ..Hope you continue to charm us with your words as well. Think my hands just fell off?

[Shweta]

Haha.. It did. Btw it's Shweta. Happy Holidays :)

[Perdition]

But..Your...it..And..lol..Okay. Thank you Shweta.

[¿]

Such graceful pleasure in being nothing or feeling the nothingness inside, no?
I find you and travelling a perfect couple where travelling lends you views of reality and real experiences and you save them in your core to write undeniable lines...And I'm lucky to read them! ;)
I so love the second stanza of this write....those nights are fortunate to be praised by you....Many many thanks for sharing this..Be blessed :)

[Perdition]

Hey!! I know you..lol. Hi Tahsin and yes the nothingness is very much a worthwhile pursuit. Glad to have souls such as yours to enjoy..now off to Nowhere Land ..Smiles and Happy Weekend!

[¿]

Happy weekend and Holidays ahead! You're warmly welcome😇

[Amada]

Again such an amazing poem sir. Thanks sir for sharing 😊😊😊

[Perdition]

We're stuck in sir land aren't we?..lol. Thanks Rahul.

[Amada]

😂😂😂😂, I hope so. Lol