Storm

dusk arising

 

 

the storm had subsided
morning dawned like a vanquished beast
                                                     waking from a duel
across the beach a small gathering
                     picked its way through newfound debris
crushed upon the rocks in the now falling tide
                              a small sailing vessel of yesterday
her ugly angle spoke of hullplates smashed
          rags of sail hanging limply on tormented rigging
those rocks would be exposed at low ebb  
                                                      and break her back
what cargo she carried were the worrys of each mind
what profit here to be taken
                                         from storms chance delivery
everyman greedily eyed the other
                     for first in would take the heart of plunder
let there not be a live soul aboard
              or they shall meet a watery grave this foul day
twas then i caught her movement,
                                           a wash of green in the prow
was it imagined or, no,      ... there it was again
hardened scroungers amidst their evil
                   were too keenly eyed on each others intent
they had not seen her
entering the receeding swell
                     i let fall my jacket and cast away my shoes
this beach was my plaything since first steps had
              let me know her rolling sand and shifting curves
i knew her beneath these waves
                                and the games she'd play a stranger
now onto my back, staying low in the water
                                     slowly propelling myself seaward
had i been spotted i could not tell,.. my ears below water
my eyes beheld a seabird and little else
                                                        bar the miserable sky
were i seen, a musket ball would greet my final breath
this day would be my last should i fail to achieve
                                               seaward of the sorry vessel
aching limbs now sighing with relief
                                              to hear her anguished pains
creaking and groaning upon the swell                               
                                   as her hull entered its death throws
there! my chance! ..diving beneath her keel
                                                         i surfaced to seaward
now out of sight of the beaches rabble
                                         i beheld the larboard side of her                        
a plaque bearing "estrella de la mañana" on her bows,
                                      a spaniard mateloe's pride and joy
'hello' i bellowed 'hello!'..........
she peered through the spintered gunwhale 'are you alone'
staring eyes, ....'come with me, you are in danger here.
                                                     .....i have a boat close by'
the frightened girl now raised her head
                       and beckoned a 'go away' motion toward me
finding nearby footing on the rocks
                                                    i hauled out and squatted.
pointing toward the beach i shook  my head
     and drew my finger across my throat then pointed to her
her eyes became fire and she rushed along the deck
                                                    holding onto the gunwhale
'hello' i shouted, pointing first to her then myself
                i made swim jestures and pointed along the coast
finally making rowing movements with my hands.....  
                                                       she stared    ....i nodded
repeating my cut throat jesture toward the beach
                            i lost my footing falling back into the briney
surfacing i watched her leap off the craft
                                    and smile toward me as she regained
seemingly at ease with the ocean i beckoned  'follow me'
swimming across and against the tide
                        the prize of landfall found me near exhausted
heavy footed without the buoyancy of saltwater
                                                    i staggered toward the cave
shivvering within its coldness,
                         i tapped my chest saying 'dusky'
                                              .....her eyes,..her face, beautiful
staring at me with lowered head
                                        she touched her chest ......'graciana'   
'we must hurry' i pulled the small boat of my childhood
                 out and down the beach with graciana pulling it too
reaching the water line graciana put her hand on my arm
                       and looking into my eyes drew her face to mine
kissing softly a thrill wrent my body,
        she was holding a small black purse,
                                    taking my hand.....placed the purse in it
she made a gesture touching her chest
           then casting her open hand palm up toward me
                   giving me the purse   ....which i untied and opened
inside was a large ruby gemstone finely set in gold
            on a gold chain and two gold rings one large, one small
looking back to the wreckage then swiftly back to me
                                                   she suddenly pushed me hard
together we drew the boat into deeper water
tapping my arms again as i placed the oars in the rollocks
                      she shook her head and pointed toward the stern
i took my seat in the stern and watched
  as this beautiful young woman began rowing me into my future
a terrible ringing sound filled the air
                           damn that alarm clock.....  it ruins everything !!!

  • Author: dusk arising (Offline Offline)
  • Published: September 24th, 2017 02:44
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 64
  • Users favorite of this poem: Goldfinch60
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Comments +

Comments7

  • Fay Slimm.

    Oh - what a compelling tale and what a surprise ending in that final line - - a verse to set my Sunday read off to a flying start my friend. Loud applause for this well-told and exciting tale of the sea.

    • dusk arising

      Thank you Fay, you're very kind.

    • Michael Edwards

      Fabulous storey with a great ending - nice one dusk.

      • dusk arising

        Thanks ME i was all at sea for an ending.

      • Christina8

        Excellent writing! The ending was unexpected for sure. Great job dusk!

        • dusk arising

          Thank you Christina.

        • malubotelho

          You've got me here. I was all about your tale entangled with you and Graciana trying to figure out the ending and there you come with the alarm clock. Oh no! Go back to sleep and write the end. Nice writing Dusk.

          • dusk arising

            There have been several re-visits during my slumbers but it may take a man of Antonio's word mastery to write a further chapter..... meanwhile.... I invite your imagination to elaborate upon the tale. thank you.

            • malubotelho

              Why? Are you telling me you are shy to write erotic? You can do it.

              • dusk arising

                Me shy? yes Malu .... oh terribly shy.

                • malubotelho

                  Yes, I see.

                  • dusk arising

                    Erm....Brit humour not travelling across the atlantic i see.

                    • malubotelho

                      I need to remind you that with me you will have to be more explicit because my language understanding, very limited.

                      • dusk arising

                        ok.... its a bit like when people bad, they mean good, wicked means good, so - sort of opposite meanings apply so when i said "oh terribly shy" i meant opposite. but rather than write erotic, sensual stuff i just stick to pure filth.
                        Mary had a great big cat
                        she put it in a bucket
                        and when she put a small one in
                        the big one tried to f..............

                        • malubotelho

                          😂😂😂😂😂kkkkk for me art is art. If you don't mind the risk, you can publish any thing. I personally prefer to read things that makes me feel good, thinking, mad, disgusted, amazed, sad, happy. So, I don't see any problem. No judgement here.

                          • dusk arising

                            Dazed and confused here.

                          • Goldfinch60

                            Such a wonderful write, I was with you all the way, even though I don't swim, did the treasure fall from your dream.
                            Into favourites with this one.

                            • dusk arising

                              OOh high praise sir with the fav's thank you. Did you pick up on all those nautical terms.... i was a sea cadet too! Knew it would come in useful one day.

                              • Goldfinch60

                                Oh yes, I have always been interested in the times of wooden boats and iron men, the Sea Cadets to whom I was Chaplain found it interesting as well when I spoke of those times.

                                • dusk arising

                                  Not many of us left who sailed with Drake you know.

                                • Neville

                                  a tantalizing tale and a half, with a bit of a surprise at tother end... well writ and muchly enjoyed DA.... Neville

                                  • dusk arising

                                    Thank you Neville. This was so much fun to write whilst attempting to keep the grammar of the period.

                                    • Neville

                                      you did good DA...

                                      Neville

                                    • Suresh

                                      Dreams are reality in an alternate universe, and you penned a beauty here and drew the reader all the way to the end.
                                      By the way, in that alternate universe,, they escaped to live a rich life - so I wish to believe.

                                      • dusk arising

                                        Do you know that i just did not know where this writing was taking me until the very last minute when the alarm clock / dream idea occurred to me.
                                        Now there's an idea you've given me Suresh,,, a continuation of this story,, hmmm we shall see.



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