Poetry, Prose, & Peonies

Endless ocean surrounds me 

an abyss of loving creatures buried below waves 

somehow amongst the lonely white caps 

I feel full and a fire is ablaze. 

Sailing across the deep Atlantic 

a cold and harrowing thought

But boarding the ship and facing no slips 

takes me to a place I’ve not been

I stare into the sapphire wondering where it goes

Who knows how far to find land in any direction? 

There is nothing I see but sky and sea 

And I need to be here on my own, for me

I made friends and lived a life that seemed 

nary a possibility in my youth 

But here I sit at a window looking out 

wishing I could stay on the ocean forever… 

There’s something romantic about being open 

over the water

I’ve realized a host of knowings

waiting for those to gain common sense on land is senseless 

for out here I’ve gained perspective 

I’ve witnessed the things I can do 

I’ve yielded cries of joy rather than fear 

I’ve learned I can be more than who I was 

supposed to be. I leave her in the harbour’s shore

Harrowing journey lies behind me and ahead 

a clear blue day. I can breathe easy knowing 

I’m a little queasy only because of the thorns 

that used to be in my way. I’ve started again 

I’ve done it now 

made myself a name and I still don’t know how 

I’ve tried to remain invisible, but much like the sky, 

I’ve encompassed new worlds and shrouded nothing

I expanded the horizon 

holding the sun in my hand 

caressing the moon as she gently glides along my existence 

I am finally free and maybe it’s not perfect 

but it’s real and it’s mine and it’s sure 

As sure as the ocean, as sure as the sun 

I am raising and rising myself to the port 

I arrive with a newfound hope,

a light that takes me home, 

and step into the new abyss that swallowed my sorrows. 

I finally see, the things I was ready for

I pray that this life remain sure.