The rounded rocks once whales

and ships which carried me

over grass seas

and headlands from which I jumped

to my nana’s arms;

still they point southwards to their polar home

travelling nobly through glacial time.

The Hebrew characters, inscribed in gold on the bookbinding,

shone in the afternoon light.

The soft light of the leaves and pale clouds through the window

was reflected on their surface. Gentle bird calls and breeze in the leaves.

Their law was imbedded in the green buds and breeze.

The dark standing trees

shimmering in the wind

sentinels in tunnels of cloud

and radiant light

Candle of still light

Cool flame of longing

Summer’s leaf

Drips of yellow

Fall from your blade

To your feet

Planted in dew

Water holds fire

In its surface

Darkness encloses

The flame seed

Spacious

Spirit wind

Spirit fire

Spirit ocean

of desire

Spirit shield

Spirit tower

Spirit spring

of living power

Freely shake

the ancient trees

Freely break

the devil’s keys

Freely fill

the sails of man

Freely will

the hurricane

Spirit mirror

of the vine

Spirit giver

of the wine

A strong wind blows on the day of rest.

Across the spaces the morning birds

Call with more urgency, the air their bleak perch.

The lake lies marred by grey clouds and trees,

Beneath its surface fish swim rapidly,

Their breath enlivened by the troubled waves.

Within man’s homes curtains bustle, a door slams,

But stillness pervades.

Thoughts of Sunday dinners, children watching TV,

Old men sitting backs far from the window.

I shall go outside this holyday

Across at the park the black children play

Hair blown, clothes torn, barefoot.

Gentle pure sky

soft blue sheet

night winds blow

your blanket deep

Sleep my child

as waters sing

and drifting clouds

pass by my feet

Love expanding as a breath fills breeze

that touches face and limbs.

Love descending as a seed

to ants and little stones.

Love as iron drips in fire,

congealing as pearls.

Love ascending as oil

soaks ground in black,

as summer fire, wind blown in terror,

abandons trees in wild night.

Love as dawn breaking, dew falling,

leaf greening,

and tranquil, a pool in the east.

High the new born crescent moon

Isaac walks through evening fields

his spirit stretches to the winds.

As the infinite beholds

a camel train nears its goal

and travellers sight a lonely man.

“Who is this, walking to meet us?”

“My master” replies the servant

Rebekah veiled her eyes.

The stars shone bright as Isaac learnt

the source of new found splendour.

A river of birth was halted

Rebekah unveiled his eyes.

Her womb was barren

The seed enclosed

The bark was thick as snow.

Yahweh held the place of beginning

Her husband asked the infinite

to open the spring of birth.

So the two entwined in love

conceived the one who brought the

delta’d water to the sea.

Passing squalls of dog barks

ruffle the distant evening.

Further to the heads the low roar

of traffic on the highway to the sea.

Within our cabin of yellow light

we rock to the rhythm of eternity.

“A six foot swell tonight.

It will get stronger as we pass the heads.”

But we will be asleep by then.

Perhaps in nightmares the sea

shall torment our sleep

or sweep us towards the rock faced

ocean of dark magnificence.

We sit together in the globe lit room.

A radio plays softly in the background.

A blue sentinel buoy passes near

rocking in the swell and our wake.

We retire to bed, the waves of night

by our window.

The distant sounds of the city, the new

moon behind the clouds.