John Pursley III - First Place Poem-
[I am Thinking of Columbus-of Newly Caulked, Dry,Docked Ships .. .] from "The
Sea~Monkey
Dreams"
I am thinking of Columbus-of newly caulked, dry~docked ships Waiting for the one~ton, wine barrels to be wheeled into the hulls Of each vessel- & the men therein, carving their initials & the sea Monsters that will, eventually, destroy them, gnawing the leathered Rations of salt~pork, & as much fresh fru it as they can find: 1492, T he year & not the number, I am thinking Genoa & Christopher, The Saint & the boy who bears his name. I am thinking of God's Good nature & the relative humility of the West, in a time of war And enterprise. The rise of Islam at the expense of Christendom. The futile attempts to recover the Holy Sepulchre. The Ottoman Empire, now knocking on the doors of Vienna. On the top~deck Of the largest ship, two men are throwing dice, playing the bones Back & forth between their hands. Another man stands amongst The riggings, casting his nose into the air, like a dog, domesticated To know his master's scent. A day behind. This is the curtain call Of men made to look the part of sailors, hauling rocks for ballast And trade cargo that would appease the Grand Khan: glass beads And decorative bells, fashioned for the feet of falcons, harriers & Sparrow~hawks upholding an air between God & man-the spirit Of the divine, a turbulence of wind. Through the streets of Palos,
The late Pedro Vasques de la Frontera is dancing like a mad~man And roaring at anyone who will listen, something about an island Summer • Fall 2006
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