See the Sea

When I awoke,
I found myself
on an island

A mass of rock and tree
and green, buffeted
and caressed
by the ocean

It's waves like lovers'
hands, moving softly
over the landscape
Shaping, moulding, carving

and I did not see
the ragged cliffs
or the heights intimidating,

but,
my god,
I found them to be heartbreaking
and soul taking
and life giving
and so permanent and temporary
that it was blinding

so I peeled off my eyelids
so that they wouldn't shut
so that the image of the seascape home
would remain through my years
so that when only darkness crawled
and called for my touch
I would only see the sea.