POULTICE
When you have looked elsewhere
for answers—the spider’s web,
the empty hive, the rotted log,
beneath the unturned stone—
ask yourself what you have
neglected. Do not lament
that what you seek is being
withheld. Be still.
Allow the flames to die
& gather the ashes.
Make a poultice of them—
any unguent will do—
& carry it with you
in a small pouch.
Otherwise, ignore it.
Let it do its work.
SEA CHANGE
It may be
you can tread water
indefinitely, summoning
stamina from sinews
untested until desperation
trips their cord,
& come to know the sea,
great mother, as the medium
best suited to your needs.
Or given the chance,
discover you can survive
at great depths,
swimming long distances
without surfacing for breath.
Perhaps your fear of drowning
is nothing more than a prejudice
foisted upon you by those
who mistrust the unknown,
your lungs really gills disguised
& on loan to an oxygen breather
until your soul cracks from thirst.
Quick, before some casual angler
casts his lure, dive deeply,
dive home.
Sid Gold is the author of 5 books of poetry, including Very Eyes (Poets’ Choice, ’23). He is a twice recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for Poetry. In 2019 he was voted among Baltimore’s Best Poets in Baltimore Magazine’s Readers Poll. A native New Yorker, he lives in Hyattsville MD
Featured image “A view of the ocean with two large rocks sticking out of the water. Twelve apostles australia sea” to be licensed via creative commons 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
