The Great Boat in the Sea: Journey to the Orkneys
By Sarita Sahni

Sea deep and mysterious
Holding all
in the womb of the earth.
The place that dies and is reborn.

Take a leap of faith
face fear with a seashell in your palm.
Hear the seals swimming onto shore
there is no shortage of time.
Ripples in the water
form grooves in the earth.
Seaweed embraces newborn skin
take in what you thought was never possible.

The sun warms the earth
and moves each day.
A ladder in the sky
follow the eagle
ride the great boat from the sea
move with the wind.

Stone carrys the deep echoe
travelling the spines of trees.
Listen
build a fire
surrender to what you are.

Fish bones trace the sand
the remains cook in water.
Follow the edge
find the moon
we will dance and sing into the night
and rest in the morning
as our bodies lie in the sun
recycled.

Eight forms a constellation in the sky
three stars form a branch
pour water
mix the elements
make a meal from the
cycles
experience the taste.

Seeds grow from inside
As the sun rises, cows travel
to return home.  If you rest too long
you might miss waking up to the calls
from the morning. 

On the precipice everything is possible.
It does not have to be dramatic
when you are lying in all four
corners of the the earth.

Seal play with me.  Teach me how to be in water
to dive deep and come to the surface.  To know that
tears turn to salt and salt turns to earth.
The great tree in the sky dances
shining on the streams below.
The moon standstills
opens the door
It is there, if you trust what you see...
Face death in the darkness
as the first seed meets the sun.