Stay your course, now do not trim
Your sails to reach me drifting
I want neither warmth nor rescue
From the autumn waves’ crashing
–
But to know the great and empty cold
Of the sea seeping through my body
To look upon the final visage of
Heaven and water’s wedded unity
–
For my bridal suit is yellowing
In a chest of cedar, miles away
With flowers from my darling fair
Pressed and preserved against decay
–
I want neither warmth nor rescue
I have chosen the coffin of the sea
For there is no precious Aurélie
Waiting in the window for me
© 2012 Elizabeth Cook
Serial Outlet 
Echoing and wonderful.. I can almost believe I heard it on an ocean breeze,,
Wow thank you, I’m so glad you liked it and left this comment 🙂
Wow!!!! That’s all…, just Wow!!!
Paul
Oh thank you, Paul!
Lily
Reblogged this on Tru Earth's Heart… and commented:
POWERFUL WORDS… A POET TO PAY ATTENTION TO…
Lovely!!
Thank you very much 🙂
Astonishing, your poem has “epic” proportions! 🙂 May it even be so that you know how to sail. Well then you are always welcome aboard my Sailing Yacht 🙂
Oh thank you! I wish I knew how to sail, I’ve been on boats and few times and just love it – despite how easily I get sunburned out on the water!
🙂
Mythical, nautical, Phantastical — lovely and sad.
Thank you for the kind comment! When I finished the poem I worried that it wasn’t actually that sad
Lily
This gave me chills. I admire your talent and the emotion packed into your poetry.
This is really encouraging, thank you! Your post “Amelia, Young Amelia” really tickled my imagination, by the way. That hint at a story with that picture – I really liked it!
Lily
Love this. Beautiful and haunting imagery.
Thank you! I really enjoyed your poem “Cast away”, by the way; could I ask what inspired it?
It was inspired by a feeling, the feeling of a journey, of feeling lost and yet still going somewhere, of the wandering heart. It wasn’t directly inspired by something specific, so it’s a bit hard to describe, but I’m glad you like it! 🙂
It’s funny how some nebulous things can be so poignant! A lovely idea 🙂
Lily
It’s so romantic haha. I love the poems flow, goes well with the topic.
Thank you very much! I must have been in a romantic mood 😛
Lily
Truly beautiful!
Thank you very much!
Lovely. This is quite creative and evocative. I thought the feminine rhymes–rather than simple assonances–in the first two quatrains to be quite interesting.
Thank you, David! This means a lot, I really admire your poetry. You never fail to be sophisticated and pleasing to the ear
Lily
You are quite welcome. One wishes for a vocabulary as large as Shakespeare, or an Education as fine as Keats; however one must make due with what one has and build from there. As a “hard science guy” so to speak, I am at a deficit, however as a musician, I am, perhaps, less so at the task of creating sound.
In any case, I do love writing sonnets.
That is so very true! I should read more Shakespeare, and am deficient in never having read Keats. You know, I think that empirical learning can somehow lend something to poetry – but of course being a musician would be key!
I’m glad that you write and share them!
Lily
I agree on all three of your assertions!
Your languishing pace adds to the ebbing sorrow of this metaphorical masterpiece.
I’m glad it worked out to good effect, thank you for your visit and comment, Mike!
Lily
truly beautiful Lily and certainly worthy of a wider audience.
Thank you very much, I’m glad that you think so!
Lily
This one is truly worthy of being read for the next three centuries
So very well done, I tip my pen in lieu of a hat
This is such a kind compliment, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Lily