The Sea: A Sestina
by Janis La Couvée
wander down to the ocean at low tide
pick among shells and rocks
look for sea creatures living or dead
treasures drifted up storm-tossed from the sea
feel the tang of salt air, the power of wind
imagine a passage calm and unhindered
what does it feel like to live, unhindered
a life not subject to oceans and tide
where nothing depends on rain or wind
imagine instead a garden, and you, picking rocks
while miles away, on the shore of an island by the sea
villagers stagger awake at night, search for the dead
ships foundered and sailors have washed ashore, dead
all those widows, cut from marital ties, unhindered
the treasure of their life, tossed as flotsam on the sea
drifting back and forth on tide
while they, are left to pick up shattered rocks
howl, grief-stricken, on lonely nights, into the wind
imagine a time, in spring, with sun-warmed wind
a time before their husbands washed-up, dead
when waves swished, gentle upon the rocks
and life was free and easy, loose and unhindered
they wait for no man, time and tide
it’s the fate of many who go, in boats, on the sea
men find freedom and joy as they explore sea
mounds, hair rigid with salt air, blowing in the wind
sensing powerful currents, waiting for tide
sitting, becalmed, adrift in the water, dead
easy to say we are free and unhindered
while in reality, fear grips us on approach to rocks
once upon a time, mermaids lured mariners onto rocks
boats shriven, men sinking into deep blue sea
there was music in their chants, floating notes carried by the wind
far into the air, before dropping, abruptly, dead
powerful and beautiful creatures, sleek, unhindered
by convention, in command of current and tide
a few sailors, plucked, unhindered from rocks
lifted by tide, free from the shackles of sea
while gale wind buffeted the remaining dead
pick among shells and rocks
look for sea creatures living or dead
treasures drifted up storm-tossed from the sea
feel the tang of salt air, the power of wind
imagine a passage calm and unhindered
what does it feel like to live, unhindered
a life not subject to oceans and tide
where nothing depends on rain or wind
imagine instead a garden, and you, picking rocks
while miles away, on the shore of an island by the sea
villagers stagger awake at night, search for the dead
ships foundered and sailors have washed ashore, dead
all those widows, cut from marital ties, unhindered
the treasure of their life, tossed as flotsam on the sea
drifting back and forth on tide
while they, are left to pick up shattered rocks
howl, grief-stricken, on lonely nights, into the wind
imagine a time, in spring, with sun-warmed wind
a time before their husbands washed-up, dead
when waves swished, gentle upon the rocks
and life was free and easy, loose and unhindered
they wait for no man, time and tide
it’s the fate of many who go, in boats, on the sea
men find freedom and joy as they explore sea
mounds, hair rigid with salt air, blowing in the wind
sensing powerful currents, waiting for tide
sitting, becalmed, adrift in the water, dead
easy to say we are free and unhindered
while in reality, fear grips us on approach to rocks
once upon a time, mermaids lured mariners onto rocks
boats shriven, men sinking into deep blue sea
there was music in their chants, floating notes carried by the wind
far into the air, before dropping, abruptly, dead
powerful and beautiful creatures, sleek, unhindered
by convention, in command of current and tide
a few sailors, plucked, unhindered from rocks
lifted by tide, free from the shackles of sea
while gale wind buffeted the remaining dead
Janis La Couvée (she/her) is a writer, poet, and conservationist with a love of wild green spaces, from Campbell River, Canada—territory of the Liǧʷiɫdax̌ʷ people. Words in Bulb Culture Collective, Book of Matches, Isele Magazine, and Paddler Press, among others. VIsit her at janislacouvee.com, @lacouvee on Mastodon and Bluesky, and @janislacouveeonline on Instagram and Facebook.