Coral

Ekphrastic poem based on Thomas Long's blown glass entitled "Coral Wave."

Her body curved and arched like the Barrier off Australia,
radiant colors showing me the way to the safe place.

 

Those shelter arms brought me down to the life-giving aquamarine lips,

and the salty seawater sheets surrounded

as the ocean floor beneath us held all of this.

 

Every inch of her deterred the sharks,

helplessly I, a wanderer, lied myself down,

relief-stricken I’d found a safe place from those predators,

abundant in all things needed,

 

and wanted.