For John Beneke and Elandré Strydom:
their ships forever at anchor
O, ocean, that heaves wide and rushes
beauty and eternity,
hidden in your blue vault of secrets
unrest churns and silver rests in panned gold,
until deep sea waters -- numerically silenced by stick
and by staff -- will wash toward shores
driftwood and pearls, timeless, yet old:
dust and treasures sifted out to pure shimmers.
Saline waters will first turn fresh,
will then sing angels' sweet psalms:
joy's realization of hearsay;
finally, the riddle's
smooth, still mirror
will lay at our feet.
.
Wanneer Waterkinders Wederkeer
Vir John Beneke en Elandré Strydom:
hul skepe vir ewig vasgemeer
O, oseaan, wat wyd stu en wat ruis
van skoonheid en van ewigheid,
verborge in jou blou geheime-kluis
kolk onrus en silwer rus in spoelgoud,
totdat die diepseewater -- numeries opgehef
deur stok en staf -- opdrifsels en pêrels, tydloos, maar oud,
landwaarts bring: uitskot, of skatte uitgesif
tot suiwer skittering.
Soutwater sal eers laf raak,
dan engelsoet psalm-sing:
vreugdevolle waarword van hoorsê;
uiteindelik sal die raaisel
se gladde, still spieël
voor ons voete lê.
Author notes
Prompt: 9. 9. 9
God Himself will decode all numbers in his time. Meanwhile, the rests of my nephew, John, and my cousin, Elandré, heave patiently in the wide ocean.
Painting: Nature's Vessel by Rina Badenhorst, SA artist.
In a list
A contest entry
- 9. 9. 9 by CarolDesjarlais.
1400 points, ended September 23, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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the phrase: "...numerically silenced by stick...and by staff..." gives great depth to this reader. So many have tried to decipher the "riddle"...but, riddle it is, and most have been wrong.
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Beautiful when you put it bilingul too. Excellent. Blessings.
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nein nein nein
that's accounting business
you live in a world where you have to pay if you have something to offer
unless you're selling
so unless you're wrongly sitting with your feet on the ground
then you righteously hanging upside down from the ceiling
and you're reading 666
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Ach so, mein Herr ... Fledermaus ...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrIcop2WHOA&feature=related
My dear marquis, a man like you
Should better understand that,
Therefore, I advise you to look more
Closely at people!
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Absolutely loved the link....
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huh..?
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I really like this piece. Fantastic use of words!
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Beuatifully Written
"Blue vault of secrets / Mirror the riddle at his feet"
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There is always such soothing serenity to be found upon your pages, Poet. Good luck in Carol's contest, Sweetie. 
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