[stylist] "Sea Lion"

[William L Houts]

The sea lion lay on that terminal beach:

mountain-like, mythical, grave,

as a murdered sphinx. Enormous and strange,

he drew at my hand, though breaths of decay

stayed me. Go now, poisoned father,

I prayed at him though I can't say why;

but perhaps I lie.Even in death

he was grand:a ruined temple or its god. .

Sand fleas sprang to feed on that

sea-self, that duke, that expired world.

How long, I thought,before bones, only

bones and stench gave sign that here died a shipwreck,

a mind of rich waters, a riddle: a soul?















-- 
"Let's drink a toast now to who we really are."

           --Jane Siberry