Lines inspired by the Irish Sea.

Light Ships


On the far sea horizon,
A mirage of light ships,
A trick of my eye,
For only I can see them.
No human mariners
Can be on board
Such luminous craft,
Such unearthly vessels.
High on a mast, beams a lamp,
Winks, sends a crystal signal.
Five colours I count,
Sapphire, red, green, violet, blue.
Advanced aeroplanes,
Silent, otherworldly helicopters,
For a few moments,
In a wider expanse,
Circle above them,
Vanish with sea gull cries.
Suddenly, sand feels hard,
Beneath my feet,
My body numb, empty,
My eyes clean, certain.
Vision of light ships,
Swept away by natural cloud,
Distraction of waves,
Seaweed tangle on the shore.