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Gavin Bantock

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journeyman

I was making a lifelong study of the sea's life
but the sea's life is longer than mine

And when I had learned
the pattern of seven times several waves
I knew only the wave-lengths of the moon
and the persuasions of the wind upon the apparent
inane comings of the tide

But I knew one of my mothers was in the sea

All the sea's languages therefore
I translated into all the others
but always the voice was the same
and I was the dumb tyro on the sea-shore

*

Driftwood came in the tide
somehow I carved a harp precious glee-wood
I plucked strings then there were other voices

And then I could see through the anatomy of the water
I could stare at the sun all day long and not go blind
I witnessed the exact curves of space

I put on a blue robe      I put on
a hood of sea-blue
I had learnt every syllable of the waters
and all that is light and dark dwells in the sea once
go down   and hear me
for now I am master of the monsyllable

 

Page(s) 51

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