ST. MARY'S LIGHT

(a pantoum)

Alone he kept St. Mary’s Island Light,
His one true love away these many years.
The grave remains on Mary’s craggy height
Where Fresnel beams allay yon sailors’ fears.

His one true love away these many years.
Now all he’s left his long love of the deep,
Where Fresnel beams ally yon sailors’ fears,
To tend his light and heart on Mary’s keep.

Now all he’s left his long love of the deep.
His oil, his glass, his soul that longs for her,
To tend his light and heart on Mary’s keep,
When on the day did Neptune’s fate proffer.

His oil, his glass, his soul that longs for her,
Her face on fishly form upon the beach,
When on the day did Neptune’s fate proffer,
Her voice of waves and sea birds’ songs beseech.

Her face on fishly form upon the beach,
“Long have I sought you, holder of my heart,”
Her voice of waves and sea birds' songs beseech,
“Come join me that we never be apart.”

“Long have I sought you, holder of my heart,”
Her song a dream far from his earthly fate,
"Come join me that we never be apart,"
With her he swam that loneliness abate.

Her song a dream far from his earthly fate,
Alone he kept St. Mary’s Island light.
With her he swam that loneliness abate,
The grave remains on Mary’s craggy height.

Geoff's Note: What would have been my second entry in Jade Pandora's brilliant competition: The Magic of Merfolk, Sirens & Water Nymphs had it made itself known prior to the close - apparently it wanted to be a pantoum...

photo titled "Beached" from the competition