01-18-2014, 08:05 PM
Revised version A 20.01. Other edits still under consideration.
------------------------------------------------------------
After a fitful sleep
devoid of dreams,
I paused at my window,
and beheld a black piano,
stranded on a sandbar
in a sparkling blue bay.
An ivory seagull
circled the instrument,
listening for a melody
in the key of air,
and water,
and sky,
and wind.
It swooped to play
the chord of loneliness,
a keening in the cry of scavengers
in their wheeling pursuit
of sustenance and love,
knowing their place
in the order of things.
The gull rose
on a current of air
to where I waited at the window.
It beat its wings slowly,
level with my face,
and I felt a strange affection
as I gazed into its golden eyes,
to smile at my reflection.
© Donna Devine
Revised version B 20.01
Circling above a black piano
stranded on a sandbar
in a sparkling blue bay,
an ivory seagull
appears to be listening to a melody
in the key of air, and water,
and sky, and wind.
It swoops as if to play
the chord of loneliness,
a keening in the cry of scavengers
in their wheeling pursuit
of sustenance and love,
knowing their place
in the order of things.
The gull rises
on a current of air
to where I wait at a window.
It beats its wings slowly,
level with my face,
and I feel a strange affection
as I gaze into its golden eyes,
to smile at my reflection.
-----------------------------
ORIGINAL version
After a broken sleep
Devoid of dreams
And with no promises to keep
I lingered at my window
And beheld a black piano
Stranded at the end of a sandbar
In a sparkling blue bay
An ivory seagull
Hovered above the instrument
Listening for a melody
In the key of air
And water
And sky
And wind
And freedom
And it swooped to play
The chord of loneliness
In the cry of scavengers
In their wheeling pursuit
Of sustenance and love
Knowing their place
In the scheme of things
The gull, rising, floated
On a current of air
To where I waited at the window
And it beat its wings slowly
Staying level with my face
And I felt a strange affection
As I gazed into its golden eyes
And smiled at my reflection
© Donna Devine
------------------------------------------------------------
After a fitful sleep
devoid of dreams,
I paused at my window,
and beheld a black piano,
stranded on a sandbar
in a sparkling blue bay.
An ivory seagull
circled the instrument,
listening for a melody
in the key of air,
and water,
and sky,
and wind.
It swooped to play
the chord of loneliness,
a keening in the cry of scavengers
in their wheeling pursuit
of sustenance and love,
knowing their place
in the order of things.
The gull rose
on a current of air
to where I waited at the window.
It beat its wings slowly,
level with my face,
and I felt a strange affection
as I gazed into its golden eyes,
to smile at my reflection.
© Donna Devine
Revised version B 20.01
Circling above a black piano
stranded on a sandbar
in a sparkling blue bay,
an ivory seagull
appears to be listening to a melody
in the key of air, and water,
and sky, and wind.
It swoops as if to play
the chord of loneliness,
a keening in the cry of scavengers
in their wheeling pursuit
of sustenance and love,
knowing their place
in the order of things.
The gull rises
on a current of air
to where I wait at a window.
It beats its wings slowly,
level with my face,
and I feel a strange affection
as I gaze into its golden eyes,
to smile at my reflection.
-----------------------------
ORIGINAL version
After a broken sleep
Devoid of dreams
And with no promises to keep
I lingered at my window
And beheld a black piano
Stranded at the end of a sandbar
In a sparkling blue bay
An ivory seagull
Hovered above the instrument
Listening for a melody
In the key of air
And water
And sky
And wind
And freedom
And it swooped to play
The chord of loneliness
In the cry of scavengers
In their wheeling pursuit
Of sustenance and love
Knowing their place
In the scheme of things
The gull, rising, floated
On a current of air
To where I waited at the window
And it beat its wings slowly
Staying level with my face
And I felt a strange affection
As I gazed into its golden eyes
And smiled at my reflection
© Donna Devine
Honour the Earth. Without it, we'd be nowhere.