poetry 5 : not even peace will do to keep me ashore now

April 5, 2010 in Uncategorized

Sea Virus

I knew I should never have gone below
but I did, and the fug of bilges and wood
caught me aback. The sheets of my heart
snapped taut to breaking, as a gale
stronger than longing filled the sail
inside me. To be shot of land
and its wood smoke! To feel the keel
cold in a current! To see the mast
inscribing water like a restless pen
writing a fading wake! It’s true,
I’m ruined. Not even peace will do
to keep me ashore now. Not even you.

–Gwyneth Lewis

In celebration of National Poetry Month.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

1 comment to " poetry 5 : not even peace will do to keep me ashore now "


aurora fox

April 6, 2010 AT 5:15PM

this poem made me think of the docks just abuzzing with life and energy in the springtime in Southeast Alaska, as fishermen prepared their boats and gear for the coming season…thanks Patti!