‘Windward’ by Paul Stephenson – Resurgence Prize, Highly Commended

The sea all water, yet receives rain still
And in abundance addeth to his store…
……………………………………..Sonnet 135

Could be thirteen, asleep on a beach,
the sand palms still, the sea uncertain.

No announcement: just the heavens
in a sudden rush, but even this much

water is never enough. I run for shelter,
quick sink my red-raw shoulders under

and stand out – a head for the duration,
as wet as a boy can possibly be.

…………………….≈

Fish rise to the surface when it rains,
they expose their fins and tails when it rains.

Fish shimmy in shoals when it rains,
they show off nacreous scales when it rains.

Then there are flying fish that fly when it rains,
who fly from surface to air when it rains.

They fly through tropical rain when it rains,
swim fly, swim fly, swim, swim, swim.

…………………….≈

Later, as the tree frogs croak
and the trade winds carry

rum-numbed couples to sleep
in their calamine skin,

it is calm beyond the reef
with the mercury – barely dipped,

when in the moment
midnight swims.