inhabitant of a foggy coast
of shifting tide beginnings and ends undefined –
were you here that day long-legged
red beaked on the beach –
were you here that day the boats came
floating upturned whales
riding the waves we came
were you here.
were you here that day the world changed
tree by tree the world fell and changed
and you ran with the tide
briefly airborne
while a wave crash flooded the oyster beds
and then landed living again
were you here.
were you here that day the forest people left
no trace of their living
but some shell memories in a cave
and a hole in a fast imploding world.
did you watch as the wind
stole their footprints – erased their path
were you here, wet gusts tugging
at black feathers
when they left.
were you here the day the elephants came
grey fogged skin wrinkling out
the forest with the tide
they paused a moment
breathed whale-song on the beach
and then sighed into sea – gone.
did you shrill call their names
cry windblown for their loss
do you fly the mist breakers
still searching for their return –
were you here.
were you here the day they were born –
turtle carried they came
wave lullabied and brought to this shore.
were you here the day they came,
do you share this beach that breathes
at the edge of tomorrow
will you be here the day
they dance this world’s beginning
dancing full bright
on this edge of unknown.
the time is close oystercatcher
will you be here still
running with the tide.
2013
First published in holy ground, 2014
For Sherry at Earthweals weekly challenge: WILD SOULS.
https://earthweal.com/2022/10/10/earthweal-weekly-challenge-wild-souls/
Since writing this in 2013 I am pleased to read that the population of the African Oystercatcher has stabilised and it it is no longer on the threatened species list.
Leave a Reply to paul scribblesCancel reply