73.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeArts-EntertainmentArts & Literature"Crossing" Poem By Filippo Cassinelli

“Crossing” Poem By Filippo Cassinelli

CROSSING

The bridge at Magens Bay,
dark pond smoothed out.
Whiff of sulfur,
mangrove trees
with craggy roots entwined.
One solitary Egret hunting,
a smudge of white
plumes the brackish
landscape.

Canopies of palm,
Seagrape and mahogany.
Chords of morning light
filter in.
Hum of ocean surf
the immense blue sea
beyond, pulsing.
Sailboats at anchor
rocking softly offshore.

In the shallows
lizardfish
camouflaged in sand
ambush predators,
rocket upward
with razor teeth
swallowing sprat.

Seagulls, boobies
and pelicans wheel
and dive into
huge dark swarms
of silvery fry.
Tarpon roam
the outer edges
mouths agape to feed.

The turtles
sleepily munch
seagrass
stingrays glide
vacuuming sand
worms and crabs
needlefish thread
the watery blue.

I have walked
and swum this bay
a lifetime,
waters of memory
images suspended
in time.

Once after a swim
in a fierce rain shower
floating, looking up
a luminous light
filled an overcast heavens
weightless between
ocean and sky,
beauty and cruelty.

Between
what cannot be known
and the longing
for the visible sign.

A light rain of clouds
falls away to the west.
This is the way back,
crossing the bridge
at Magens Bay
homeward bound.

Dedicated to the management, staff and police of the Magens Bay Authority who keep our parks beautiful and protected for the public to enjoy. 

Filippo Cassinelli is a businessman from the Island of St. Thomas.

The Source Arts & Literature section highlights the work of our creative readers. All visual artists and creative writers are encouraged to share with us new works.

Poetry and creative prose submissions are limited to 1,500 words and should include a brief bio of the writer. Visual art submissions should include at least one high-quality image or video and a very brief bio along with an artist’s statement that speaks to the inspiration of the work. The statement should include the title if there is one, the medium used and what the work means to you.

Please send submissions and questions to visourceart@gmail.com.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Support the VI Source

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall - we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. Our sites are more popular than ever, but advertising revenues are falling - so you can see why we could use your help. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. If everybody who appreciates our reporting efforts were to help fund it for as little as $1, our future would be much more secure. Thanks in advance for your support!