Of Bowsprit and Wind Born

By Herr Wülfsunus

© 2002

 

Weaned from a berth

 with a bottle, and a shove

cheers and merriment at hand

with aspirating zephyrs from the skies above

I began my life, my voyage grand . . .

Of these wooden bones

a handsomely crafted hull

majestic, and knowledgeably sea worthy

I shoved off alone

with my mast half drawn

to a world poured out before me.

In my passing of isles

or a stay for awhile

exchanging the goods that I bear

and taking on treasures, those gleaming gifted smiles

the fair trade-winded motions of care.

In some ports of passings with long-tailed lassings

I laid harbor to some pirated heresies.

Here rouge-wave clashings

were the repaid lashings

for those buggered acts of debauchery.

But my journey moved on to seasons of calm

as my sexton drew enlightenment from the sky.

More wise in my ways

I ruddered my days

and my yearnings swelled with every dawn.

Though slowing currents of time seemed to hollow the brine

and my moment began to lack it’s buoyancy

as desires grew their urgency

stagnant water laid before me

and I knew I needed to fly.

So I looked for an alliance

Aphrodite, Poseidon

but myth had a way of moving on

all I hear now are the Sirens

in their shallows of hiding

haunting the still with their song.

So I drift, a wait

and pray again for that day

when that adventurous wind will take to me

unfurling my sails again

to a spirited inhale again

off onto that endless odyssey.