No
Hurricane Waltz
By Richard
Boyd
Come
timidly, rippling, squalling you pesky wave,
Dimpling
and dipping maybe off Cape Verde Isles,
Sashaying
innocently up from deep South Atlantic
And
swelling ever deceptively at the open mouth:
Go
west into the Caribbean Sea or beeline north?
Ah,
you rollicking, wretched monitored little wave,
Settle
down, now relax and go ever now gently
Across
the vapid placid expanse of some old Gulf.
We
embrace you undulating swells, we fondly do,
We
chart your hoped for benign and steady progress.
Away,
cascade away from Rigolets you timid wave,
Reject
any big ideas from some misguided sea energy
And
do not spew those waterwalls of churned anger
To
surge across the calm face of our beloved old lake
And
invade our waterfront and sanctity of our homes.
But
we cringe, shudder from your oft howling anger.
Be
not this time that scowling and slashing creature.
O,
yes, now that is the admired correct way of wave.
Yes,
go waltzing dear, hug fondly the calmer ocean,
Just
a two step pleasing dance this sweet wave ripple.
Yes
go slowly now, grand ballroom gestures abound,
Swirling
skirts of mild foam topped dancing partners,
The
rhythmic journey with the cold northern ocean
And
we smile in relief of that dancing into oblivion.
Let
no hurricane besmirch this splendid watery waltz.
Copyright
Richard Boyd, 10/12/2014. All rights reserved. Reprinted here with permission.
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Richard
Boyd's poem, “No Hurricane Waltz”
was the first poem selected to appear
in a new
art project in Mandeville, La. –
poetry boxes – tiny public displays of work
designed to encourage passersby
to stop and appreciate poetry.
Photo by Donald G. Redman
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