BEYOND THE REEF

The siren in the night

The calling of a whale

And beyond the reef

A thunderhead gathers

and takes in the sea.
I am breathing beside my body

The distant earth is my blood.

The heart of this universe is pale.

White blood of the galaxy

And this crayon of the sea colors the air.

And I am working hard

Looking for something
beyond the reef.

2/7/1987
a transliteration

FROM THE EGYPTIAN