SHORE LEAVE - FEBRUARY 2007

Look beyond the surreal world –
Left wing heaven’s felon cast it’s
Thunderous typhoon winds
Whipping the void into a frenzy
Stirring the ocean’s cauldron into
Madness of apocalyptic fury.

The wild beast unleash its maelstrom
Of pulverizing waves – mountainous waves.
Scaling the stairway up the slanting sea –
Plunging to the edge of oblivion.
A surreal world of violent beauty –
Flaming the beating heart.

Shore leave – a respite from daily grind of angry sea.
The hostess greets us with a bow.
She was not of glamorous beauty
Her asset was her charm – gentleness
A calming demeanor of big sister.
Eyes that say, Leave your troubles at the door.

Neither of us spoke the other’s language
The universal silent language –
Our common denominator –
Spoken with darting eyes that caress –
Soliloquy with nods and smiles –
Mutual comprehension without spoken words.

The simplicity of guest-hostess relationship –
She was there –
Nothing more – nothing expected.
We danced all night – melded as one,
Gliding to slow music
That sooths the battered soul.

Her warm cheeks firmly planted
A tactile brush of lips to cheek.
She did not resist, nor did I pursue.
Her cheek was soft, velvety
As fragrant as flower petals –
And exudes an aura of femininity.

The tactile brush of lips was just a gesture,
There was no passion or sensual intent.
She was too much of a gentlewoman
Further advances will denigrate her
To a common dance hall girl.
Capture the precious moment – and let it be.

This dream-like spell
Was like watching beautiful scenery
Or to be captivated by words
Weaving thru a love poem
Or listening to adagio of a symphony
She was the conductress of the spell.

The establishment is not
A place for cheap romance
But a place for lonely seamen or men
Who seek opposing spectrum
From drunken brawl in cheap dance hall.
Capture the precious moment – and hold on.

Look beyond the world of flaccid sea –
A macrocosm of men – steel – and ship.
Homeward bound – north by northeast.
The Hostess soothed raging storm in my mind.
I left my troubles at their door step.
Capture the precious moment – and let it be.