the new day

the windows to this forest are friendly
dancing filtered light soothing
i settle down with back against a trusty oak
there's nobody close
to hear the low murmur of zzz's

the beach sand is blood red and slow
with each stride in the darkness
red penetrates
ever deeper into my soles

there's been an attack
avers the approaching curlew
adding i'm lost

as we near the shipwreck she lights my shoulder
and wordlessly whispers a thank you
but the sea remains chafingly silent

before i dare utter the longed-for response
she takes wing
'i love you' plops down on the innocent deaf sand
only to reluctantly dissolve into the endless waters

there's been an attack
the ship's compass is moral
indicating true north
rather than the ubiquitous magnetic

'overhead the albatross
hangs motionless upon the air'
with echoes in my head
i reach for the compass
yet suddenly grasp the essence of
'i am you and what i see is me'

soon enough the sun will rise
and with those first rays of dawn
the sand shall again be white

we shall gladly greet the new day