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Jeffrey Woods

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Body On Shore

Raging foam swirled waves of salt around the body.
She lay alone and frozen in winter’s savage kiss
a young woman driven to an early death.
It was a strange observation,
the morning light revealing bruises of dark colour
that mixed in with her grey stone flesh.

I will never forget that haunting look in her eyes,
that permanent fixed facial expression of fear.
In her golden blonde hair
mythical mermaids had tied ribbons of colour.
This female had undergone a seaworld ceremonial burial
and O if only she could quickly tell me
the hidden secrets of the sea.

Her mouth wide open
echoed to the cries of wandering albatross and gentle dolphins.
Seaweed grew now from her cold stale lips,
its roots sliding down her coral throat
attaching invading spores within her stomach.

I pick her up off the cold seashore
and together we dance for just a little while.
She then whispers softly in deaths voice,
“Compassionate stranger bury me.”
Using only my bare hands I dig through
layers of pebble and shell
eventually honouring her plea.

I mark the grave with driftwood
and for the headstone I erect a walrus tusk,
leaving forever the body on the shore.

 

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