glimmeringly
out there the blue sea blue waves
streaked chained with fire
The sun distills a golden light,
The sun distills a silence.
White clouds dazzle across the sky:
I walk in the blowing garden
Breaking the gay leaves under my feet …
Leaves have littered the marble seat
Where the lovers sat in silence:
Leaves have littered the empty seat.
Down there the blue pool, quiveringly,
Ripples the fire of the sun;
Down there the tall tree, restlessly,
Shivers beneath the sun.
Beloved, I walk alone …
What dream is this that sings with me,
Always in sunlight sings with me?
Out there the blue sea, glimmeringly,
Ripples among the dunes.
Blue waves streaked and chained with fire
Rustle among the dunes.
The sea-gull spreads his wings
Dizzily over the foam to skim,
And an azure shadow speeds with him.
The sea-gull folds his wings
To fall from depth to depth of air
And finds sky everywhere.
Variations: XVIII by Conrad Aiken (1889-1973).
Conrad Aiken was born in Savannah, Ga in 1889 and left when he was 11 and moved to Cambridge, Mass.
His relocation came about when his father killed his mother and then himself.
While wikipedia lists many inspirations for his poetry, Aiken himself said Savannah and the South did not play a part.
Mr. Aiken and his 3 siblings were adopted by a great aunt and her husband, Frederick Winslow Taylor of stopwatch and the 19 and a half pound D handled coal shovel fame.
Not sure what any of that has to do with anything but anyone who comes up with and uses glimmeringly to describe watching the ocean is okay by me.
You can visit his grave in Savannah.
No Haiku For You 