The Maiden Voyage of 'Calm Sea'
Published 'Braquemard' 1995
The harbour was choked with coloured streamers, as the Calm Sea ploughed into the universe’s wide horizons upon its maiden voyage. The crew’s shantying voices faded beyond the cheers of the bystanders on the wharf. Calm Sea’s blooming sails became a gorgeous white butterfly in the distance tasting a world of undulating nectar ... its only world, other than itself.
I was sad, however. On board was my true love who believed I was not hers. I’d tried to convince her, but to no avail. She was to take the cruise upon Calm Sea. Too good a chance to miss, she’d maintained. I was evidently not the husband destined for her by a version of God I couldn’t quite fathom. Nevertheless, she was MY true love, if nothing else ... and I doubted the seaworthiness of that rigger upon which she now plied the universe. The harbour partying was merely a distraction from bigger issues than any of those people trailing streamers could possibly imagine. The oblivion of drunkenness was only one short step from the ignominy of death.
During my preoccupations, I failed to witness the final diminishment of Calm Sea upon the now empty horizon. It was as if my true love had never existed. With the sea so flat with unruffled waves, I wondered why the rigger was still not visible to the naked eye. The universe must be round after all...
I was glad it WAS round, for I would never need to know what unseasonable storms threaded the eyes of all those sharing my maiden’s voyage beyond the ocean’s meniscus.
The crowd dispersed, bobbing balloons behind them like rubber angels. They’d only seen off unwelcome visitors on the Calm Sea.
I remained alone, seated upon the wharf wall, legs dangling towards the flirting, gurgling waves.
And I knew, deep down, where flirting often tended to lead.
No comments:
No trackbacks:
