Zhengxun Hee

 

death by sea

 
the waves shatter like old memories and names on
the beaten defeated hull. the crackling
mast casts its flowers of splinters: a rain
of dead clockheads. the black umbrella clouds
stand stoic, bloated with the tears of yesterdays.
and the sun walks with me on the plank between indigo
and blue to my deepest, unmarked grave.
 
i stand on a burning ship and choose the icy waters to fire.
on the bed of a cold oblivion, she lets you sleep entire.
 
but i know that in doing so, i will still
live in the conquering waves of hearts and
the cavernous ripples of breaths.
live in the impetuous lands that ships walk and
the meek soils that sailors till.
live in the little gifts of silent seashells and
ribbon blue water that slip away from small sandy fingers.
live in the braided hair of history and
linger in the milk teeth boxes of memories,
well kept and faded.
 
throwing my name,
it skips across the windless horizon of sound
and, glowing, causes full ripple of sun, both sky and water.
 
taking my step,
i fall head first into many diamond halos
for I know that warm heavens have spilled into the sea.

 

 

Zhengxun was a commended Foyle Young Poet in 2006 and 2007.

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