FORGOTTEN OCEANS, DELICATE SEAS

Painting by Dai Ping Jun

The brute oblivion of the sea smothers me

with unforgivable fingers as I load my memory

with new cartridges cocked to shoot the past.

The worst thing I have come upon my journey

in life has been this longing sharpened by

the Atlantic Ocean, hardened by the mad waves

of yesterday and tomorrow.

I look through the window and it is there,

buried in ignored depths but the tides

always bring my riches to the shore when

I least want to remember my salty skin

mingled with yours.

Some day death shall close my eyelids

before I exercise my transcendent talent for pain.

Some day it will be sweet to die in the sea

before I tremble with tenderness and candor.

Karla Bardanza

Copyright©Karla Bardanza 2011