Nassau Poems

Golden sun in an azure sky,

Turquoise ripples when the tide is high,

As I think of friends gone by

Blue am I.

Green palm fronds in a gentle breeze,

Dappling shadows ‘neath casuarina trees,

With time myself to please,

I take my ease.

Flaming Poinciana trees in June

A spreading canopy of scarlet hue

Fiery fingers reaching to the early moon

My fears subdue

Coral pink and ruby red

The troubles of the day have fled

Into the sunset sky they’ve bled

I look ahead.

Darkest velvet the sky at night,

With wealth of diamonds burning bright,

A soothing vision to my tired sight,

All will be right.

27.1.02

A swath of cloud across the water lies,

Plumes of smoky grey encompassing the skies.

To west swell folds of radiant rose,

While overhead the canopy translucent glows.

Then through a window in the grey

Gleams of gold begin to find their way,

Until the shining globe floats free

Casting a gilded path upon the rippling sea.

Down on the beach a man and dog emerge

And in the glis’ning waves themselves submerge,

In salutation to the rising sun.

A new day in paradise has begun.

20.8.01

The wind grows stronger with the ending of the day,

Whipping the grey-green waves more urgently upon their way.

The rising moon climbs higher in the still-pale sky,

Now dim, now brighter as the clouds drift by.

Palm-fronds stream in the restless air,

Pointing with their fine-fringed fingers,

who knows where?

Across the bay the twinkling lights grow bright,

A reassuring presence in the falling night.

And already it has become too dark to write!

6.2.01