SONG ON SPANISH THEMES

Prepardme una barca como un gran pensimiento…
(Prepare me a ship like a great thought.)

—Delmira Augustin

​

His boat—a thought that ran away—
he built for her. She didn’t know
his name, his face, his dock. He sailed—
most nights—swiftly. Some others, slow
as a new moon, pulling tides low.

She spent time like bad paper, led
her life without looking. Dream sails
never tempted her. Books she read
were dull as tide pools, full of pale
numbers laid out, neat, by dead males.

They passed in dreams, aware but blind
each to each. His ship called her home.
She missed its song. He sailed to find
the her she didn’t see. Waves comb
blue beaches. They both sleep alone.

Meet the Author:

Mark J. Mitchell  has been a working poet for 50 years.  His latest collection is Something To Be.. A novel, A Book of Lost Songs is due in Spring. He’s fond of baseball, Louis Aragon, Dante, and his wife, activist Joan Juster. He lives in San Francisco.

He can be found on Bluesky @MJMitchellwriter