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. Â 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. Â 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.
