Geese, and Catamarans, Cowrie Shells and Smoke
(Daily Prompt: Connections)
©March 6th, 2016
By Vijaya Sundaram
If I send you a string of thoughts
Winging across the air
In goose-formation,
Would you watch their flight?
And would you send back
A flight of thoughts
Winging as surely as geese
Returning in springtime?
Little archipelagos we are
Locked in by surging seas
Close, but not connected
Lonely, we send out catamarans
Carrying our conversations
In exchange for yours
It’s all bartering, this parley
Between us, yours for ours.
Cowrie shells of self in trade,
Cloth of heart and steel of soul,
Gold bangles of love,
And rings of friendship.
Mind you keep mine well,
Treasure them, shine them.
I shall do so, likewise.
For these are precious things.
And I thank you for yours.
Little islands we may be,
But I see smoke spire out from
Your chimneys, and am cheered.
I shall keep my hearth clean,
Dust the ashes, stock my fireplace
Use good kindling, light a fire.
I hope you’ll see the smoke rise.
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