Marc Awodey

1960-2012

Our Empty Sea

1.
Under our empty sea a turquoise world exists
as a sickly changeling beyond recollection
in trench, plateau, plain, barrow of cloudy schist.
On tossing desert continuum resides a pacific mind
and in ocean mind there is no drying soil.
Only whales consider the possibility of a surface
above bright heaven¹s sky of amethyst.

2.
At pencil thin ends of falling daylight beams
in trench, plateau, plain, barrow of cloudy schist;
a coterie of philosophers gathers to theorize
of crossing high oceans under clouds of full sail.

3.
We may follow the descent of black backed emperor penguins
from above bright heaven¹s sky of amethyst,
into the open jaws of unimpressed killer whales
compelled to sing on ocean floor the prayers of killer whales.

4.
While posed as sailing angels we were tattooed on high,
in tomorrow¹s gray swelling skyscrapers pale
to become now useless ballast stones as a sinking hull
sweetens unknown landscapes undreamt of.

5.
Do not mourn the passing of sea creatures into sustenance
crossing high ocean under clouds of full sail;
that unwholesome meat, tossed red into sponginess
sweetens unknown landscapes undreamt of.
And forever anon and forever anon penguin
compelled to sing on ocean floor the prayers of killer whales
weep to be allowed to drink from flukes of heartless brine
for in ocean mind there is no drying soil.

6.
Fashion scrimshaw as your craft teases mumbling heaves
for in tomorrow¹s gray swelling skyscrapers pale.
Let terran sand dissolve within faultless sea
for under our empty sea a turquoise world exists.
134 Total read