la tierra del fuego

.La tierra del fuego

 

The shrill cries of natives echo, skipping over the

Cool, still, water.

There are no glimmers of light

Left dancing over the horizon

The sea is

Still

The bow sways,

Back and forth, our body’s caught

In the perpetual.

She cradles my warm being

As we drift forward,

over the icy waters,

searching for a moment,

of lust full existence;

we share this dark eve

on the black ocean.

 

Still,

There is light beckoning for life.

 

Still,

There is light surging

Forth from the burning fires spattered along

the ridge where the seas break.

 

Still

There is light warming the bones of Children

learning their mother tongue.

 

is it here then,

where the waves scatter into nothing,

where the seas icy abyss threatens to rise and swallow;

to pick my bones in whispers,

is it here

As the fleshy bottoms of feet

Stamp out ancient motifs along the shore,

Their hearts still heaving blood through their veins, That

my ship and I, a floating apparition

in communion whisper

the seas dark truths?

Is it here

where heaven misplaced her blazing children,

That I may forget the cry of gulls, and the deep sea swell and the profit and loss?

Is it here that time holds no dominion?

Author's Note

la tierra del fuego meaning the land of fire is located at the southern most tip of south america and was given its name by ferdinand megellan when he circumnavigated the globe. As Megellan passed by it on the Straits of Megellan the fires of natives could be seen along the shore.