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Pacific Baroque 1

by
April 2007, no. 290

Pacific Baroque 1

by
April 2007, no. 290

(A fugue in words inspired by a shipwreck at Vanikoro)

 

They

should have known

the blood-red coral

would look for props –

fallen men, upturned ships

numinous

against darkened

skies.

 

They

should have known

Medusa’s head was

severed in an

artist’s fugue,

the sinking man beheaded

by a passing sword

was her reply.

 

They

should have known

velvet seas prefer

to be arranged

on flesh,

that still-life on

the ocean floor

will never date.     

 

They

should have known

the sound of silence –

Vanikoro

would keep them

here,

that only one

would be released –

 

he

has good teeth,

is of average height,

thirty-five years –

a private man

found living

darkly

in an ocean rift.

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