In Darkness

we rowed across the loch
in darkness
going to our island
in a boat whose pattern
came from Vikings,
Moon a slivered crescent
over watchful mountains,
bright enough to see,
faint enough
to let the stars shine through,
only unseen peaks
cutting off bright swathes
of universe in cloudless sky,
stretching to forever’s edge.

I could smell the forest
on approaching shore,
pines and oaks all crowded close
on rocky slopes,
marching down to sea
as smooth and still as glass.

I could feel the ocean
pulling at the oars,
Salt taste upon my lips,
Each blade coiling
into phosphorescence
Pale green effervescence
From unseen creatures old
when world was young.

I heard your unseen breath,
felt your slender legs against
the bottom of my feet;

and I floated in
a depth-less darkness,
propelled by swirls of light
and thoughts of how
I would remove
Your clothes
Once we reached our destination.

my eyes were closed,
my body caught in rhythm
and anticipation;
when I opened them
in darkness I could see
your face, your lips, your hips, your breasts,
for you had undressed
and with cupped hands
poured ocean on your skin
to make it glow with whispered life

you made me understand;
when I stopped rowing
our journey’s end
had become each other,
not our island.

alone and eager
we joined together
in darkness
at the center
of the shimmering sacred sea.