MEMORY
Cathedral formed by sea and sky;
reshaped each dawn by Merlin's touch.
Winged sentinel, an ancient soul,
with gaze as firm as miser's clutch,
keeps vigil over eager boy
whose fingers ease the Tops'l fold;
his voice alive with morning joy,
ere Forties' scream takes its fierce hold.
Communion, now no longer held,
no vigil kept in southern sky.
Rust , growing in its quiet resolve
stills memory now, to gentle sigh.
Etched deep within the burnished frame,
leached clear of tar and tallow seal,
lay echo of far distant lands,
birth wrought by turn of oaken wheel,
and azimuth and gimbal'd cave,
in mix of ancient lore;
conspires with Heaven's breath
and tide, to open memory's door.
But, memory's lock distils the ache
of spirit held by land,
where word turns fast to marah tongue;
and narrow sky the band,
that holds the heart in steel embrace
bereft of sweet aubade;
dull sounds, attrition to the soul,
of wealth and fortunes made.
For greed will offer Hades' view
and cause his psyche weep,
should land be firm beneath his feet
and cities hold his keep.
Where mediocre soars like plague
on procrustean wing;
and mindless fly in face of hope
despite eternal spring.
Brief moment then, that is this life,
hold fast its meaning thus:
Integrity its balm; its wine;
if Mentor be Telemachus.
Reg Kear © 1995
