On Vacation With Middle Passage Memories...

Out over the alluring expanse

of the Big Water---

where the sky rest upon

the water’s edge---

where undulating ships wait

to fall off the earth---

we saw the lightening

dancing in space

and heard the applause

of the thunder.

 

Huge nimbus clouds,

dark like the early night,

and filled beyond capacity---

burst opened like over filled water

balloons---releasing great falls of rain

wrestling with ferocious winds;

for control of fleeing waves

rushing to shore---frothing

the sands with quenching gratitude.

 

Mesmerized and immobilized

by nature’s fury,

the blood flow of memory

released a storm of memories---

detailing vivid descriptions

of Middle Passage crossings.

 

The only things missing

from this reality of the present scene,

were the times---places---stenches

of the living and dead---echoes

of the moans, groans and rattling chains

from the bowels of the putrid ships

that saved many unfortunate poor souls

from the Big Water’s fury---ironically

landing them safely on the waiting shores

to begin life anew:

shuttled to and from the auction block.

 

The howling winds, roaring waves,

and whipping rains---all slowly subsided:

we hailed the shuttle bus back to the hotel.