MOCKBA1's World Gallery of Photos, Poetry and Images

The Sea

The Sea is an everchanging picture of wondrous beauty,
A fluid canopy decorated under the reflection of the sun --
Its dark blue waters dotted by sparkling patches of
Orangy-brown, its waves capped by foaming white surfs --
Watery explosions occurring each and every time
They roll against the jagged jutting rocks of the shore.

The Sea is nature's melodious symphony -- its waters
Constantly moving -- never still, not even for a moment;
Knowing neither rest nor sleep nor tranquil calm,
Perpetually subject to the dynamic forces of nature
And the distant Lunar pull -- An orchestra of chiming
Dinghies and repetitive rhythmic surf.

The sun glistens off the Sea's swelling, rolling
Ffluid waters as waves reach for the earthen terra,
Only to retreat back into the ocean's vast,
Deep expanse;
Gradually rocks and dirt sink beneath
The water as the tide reaches its height submerging
Everything around -- only to re-emerge hours later
When the Sea recedes, maintaining its unending journey
To and from the shore's earthen land, sand and rocks.

Gulls circle overhead scanning tidal pools for creatures
Stranded by the ebbing waters,
Panoramic colorful sailboats glide across the surface
Guided by gentle winds; A misty spray sprinkles
Nearby rocks and land, glazing them under a watery
Film of plankton, algae, salt and seaweed,
While the refreshing ocean breeze comforts all around,
Providing much needed respite from the infernal
Summer heat.

The Sea, though placid and serene at times,
So seemingly impotent and powerless,
Is a paradox of nature --  Kind and gentle one moment,
Wild and untamed, fickle and unpredictable,
Angry, unrepentant and violent the next --
Violently frothing and churning and lashing and tearing
At everything and everyone within its lethal reach --
Causing rampant flooding, wide-spread destruction
And indiscriminate loss of life during raging
Storms of great fury and might.

The Sea, though tranquil, enchanting and beautiful in
Appearance, providing food and minerals and sport
And pleasure to all who partake of its gentle generous
Manner is but a watery Siren waiting to lure, trap and
Destroy the unsuspecting complacent ignorant,
Who acting out of pride, display false bravado --
For as the violent storms show,
The Sea is master of and controls the destiny of
All who use her waters.

--W. Sutherland

Illustration from Poetry, Prayers & Haiku by W. Sutherland (Watermark Press, Copyright 1999)

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