Touching dawn

Kelwyn Sole

1

The sea: an apiary of light

where crests briefly scintillate,

shake themselves free like bees

in search of the honey of the sun,

itself a flower risen –

a sound

that grumbles then is stilled

winds

turn, seek new directions, waves

scrabbling each time to find a shore –

that one, right there! – so near

their whitened fingertips.

Also, though: this other dawn

where I, who can hardly see

past

steam rising from my teacup

find

you, here next to me.

2

I am turned around by you, by

our immensities: this buoyant sea,

a love we’ve learned to trust

within us and about us

even more than

fulfilled desire

comes

a fresh surprise:

the common place of joy we

find when our bodies merely

touch.

Featured at The Red Wheelbarrow on 7 July 2022