"Words' Worth" Poetry Readings
Poets at the Culture, Arts, and Parks Committee
of the Seattle City Council.
Sea Glass From Execution Rock By Neile Graham
This is the gift my mother gives
a hint of vision, chunk of glass
tongued and ground by waves,
tossed onto the rock by
winter tides. This
my mother sees; having walked
across the mudflats to the remains
of Ohiat village to Execution Rock,
she finds this bit of green
with the taste of ocean, some white
man's bottle turned into beauty
by sand and time.
Another gift, the tale of her journey.
she writes Last night was special dark,
dark with al possible stars,
the milky way and quiet.
we were out in a herring skiff
admiring bioluminescence trailing
from paddles and dip netsÉ
Stars above and below!
I told her I'd steal those words
to trade for what I cannot see
in the city except a hint that rides
in with winds from the Sound, a rumour
that brings the ocean here.
The cedars outside my door shake it for
news, and I stand outside in dim winter
rain
On my way to work, guess at the
meaning of the weaving branches, the
taste of salt air, touch the bit of glass
In my pocket to see the cloud-hidden
stars, the falling rain catching sparks
from street lights to scatter below.
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