Three Poems by Joan McNerney

SeaScape I

 

Hearing waves from a distance and
feeling sea breezes brush our faces,
it seemed a century before we
came to the ocean.

 

So blue and bright to our eyes
its rhythm broke chains of
unremarkable days.

 

Over cool sand we ran and you picked
three perfect shells which fit
inside each other. Swimming away in
that moving expanse below kiss
of fine spray and splashes.

 

With clouds cumulus we drifted while
gulls circled the island. Together we
discovered beds of morning glories
climbing soft dunes

 

 

SeaScape II

 

Let's dive in ocean hiss swish
riding with bluewhales, bluewaves.
Brush of foam and windy ripples
sunbeams chasing quicksilver fish.

 

Floating through our shining world
fragrant clouds, feathery clouds.
We weave one arm after another
wearing bracelets of salt pearl.

 

 

SeaScape III

 

My mind is an ocean
where swimmers, surfers,
sun worshippers cavort.

 

Long salty hair
held between
their teeth.
Flourishing
wild flowered gowns
…streams of silk
waves of taffeta
splashy lace.

 

They sail through
my watery face
combing my eyes
whispering in my ears.

 

Alone, under a pointillist sky.
Gulls flying around me.
Black waters touched by
moon of vague prophecy.

 

 

 

 

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, 63 channels, Spectrum, and three Bright Spring Press Anthologies. She has been nominated twice for Best of the Net in 2011. Four of her books have been published by fine small literary presses.