The bay grape leaves mimic
cobblestones on the path
which overlooks the sea.
A street lined with gold,
doubloons thrown down,
for entrance to the hidden
view. The trees on the side
curve like the inside of a boat,
carry one towards the cliff.
Where an English wooden
garden bench perches.
Wind blows through slats,
stiff ribs of a dead cow
used in days when lanterns
bobbed inside the precipice’s
chalky swell, like a moon gone
mad. A wrecker’s ball spilling
light, drew ships in for loot.
Above the clouds’ silent
symphony, a massive jigsaw
puzzle on blue, the long-
tail counterpoints with
a high pitch, swoops
over the choppy tide’s
staccato. The sea heaves in,
out of breath, searches
deep pockets for shells.
Tokens left in sand pay
to touch land. The wave’s
fist, clutches, releases.
~ Nancy Anne Miller
Nancy Anne Miller is a Bermudian poet. Her book ‘Somersault’ is forthcoming from Guernica Editions (CA). Her poems have appeared in various magazines, including Mslexia, New Welsh Review, The Caribbean Writer and Sargasso: Journal of Caribbean Literature. She has an M Litt in Creative Writing from Univ. of Glasgow, is a MacDowell Fellow, and teaches workshops in Bermuda. Presently, she is guest editor of ‘tongues of the ocean’.
Featured artwork by Ali Choudhry.
