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Open Poetry #14

At the Foot of the Tower

VAS
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-16

Posts 7450
Oregon

0 posted 2001-06-05 02:03 AM

At the Foot of the Tower
Virginia Salter

she entered the door at the foot of the tower
it was on the leeward side and away from the sea
the crashing surf could be heard inside the stone walls
its rhythm in time with her slow, methodic steps
up the spiral staircase

as she reached the ninth step
she began to hum a tender tune
from her childhood memory
each note came, too,
methodically as each step and crashing wave

the faint glow of moonlight
dimmed with each passing
of the pulsing lantern above
each in time with the other
as if perfectly orchestrated
finally her steps brought her
and her tune to the third landing

there, on the twenty-seventh step,
she stopped
both her footsteps
and her humming
and gazed out
over the blackness
that was striped
with gilt-edged waves

she opened the door
and stepped to the railing
said a tender, gentle prayer
and watched the earth,
glistening with starlight and fireflies,
rise to meet her, eagerly,
as she said “Good-bye.”

Nov. 1999

Logan
Senior Member

since 2001-05-28

Posts 1641
Arkansas