I ambled along Jamaica Bay
out towards Plum Beach and
stared at the waves
flashing in and flushing out
bright waves and dark waves
here and in Coney Island.
the wind fondled my face
as it pumped through branches and
fluttered wings of birds and
flicked far grains of sand
instantaneously replaced
next to the unbounded ocean
filled with measureless life—
plankton tumbling
into vast blue whale bellies
shark’s blood steaming
microscopic flotsam
swept into organic tissue—
a billion billion
moments of existence
devouring and
being devoured.
I drifted to a small cedar bush
picked an emerald berry
crushed it between my fingers and
this bipedal flesh
imagined immortality
in this very life yet
on the waters of Jamaica Bay
myriad coffins
floated by
their ceaseless transformation
free
of mortal desire.
Charles Chaim Wax
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-brooklyn-waters/
