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Picture taken by my friend Cyndi Leos....thank you Cyndi.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Magpie #144: Squall of Memories...





Squall, 1986 by Andrew Wyeth

Photo presented by Magpie Tales
Poetry challenge presented by Tess Kincaid


he fought the howling winds
sweeping the rocky cliff
as the squall claimed
 the bright afternoon sky

flashes came
as they often do
haunted by memories told
from her grateful crew

 she had cursed the storm
as she gripped the helm
 steering into towering waves
of her beloved watery realm

their Father, now dead, taught her well
she always took after him
he never had the stomach for it
his sister had always said
 
the brother hated the sea
for it took them both
he carried the guilt of the eldest son
he would never be free

steadfast and dedicated
 to protect others from his fate
resolved to his earthly mast
the light house was now his home

~dkb~

3 comments:

DJan said...

The "he" and "she" sound like a couple, but then he ended up living in the lighthouse? Interesting imagery, Donna, after having seen "The Life of Pi" yesterday, I could sure see those crashing waves. :-)

Donna B. said...

I may need to clarify my poem as I meant for it to be brother and sister....the sister took after their father, who was also a sea Captain, and had also been taken by the sea. The brother never had a stomach for a life at sea, so in his guilt, he lived in a lighthouse to protect those who were brave enough to sail the sea and honor his sister and father.

Susan Anderson said...

I got a bit confused at first, too. Upon second reading, all came clear.

Your story is sad and compelling...and, I think, plausible.

=)