DELAWARE BAY

FROM: SONGS FOR A FRIEND

DELAWARE BAY

IT WAS LOW TIDE WHEN WE GOT THERE
BAYSIDE IN THE MID OF WINTER
AFTER A THAW
STRANDED ON THE SHORE LIKE WHALES
THE PILES OF ICE
OR MOVING OUT TO SEA
MOANING AS THEY RUBBED EACH OTHER
GROANING AS THEY HIT A PIER OR BREAKWATER
BUT IT WAS THE ICE ON SHORE
THAT HELD OUR EYE
MELTING NOW IN THE SUN
SENDING BACK THEIR RICHNESS TO THE SEA
OCCASIONALLY THEIR WEIGHT WOULD BREAK THEM
OR WE WOULD WISHING WINTER AWAY
IT BECAME A GAME WE'D PLAY WISHING WINTER AWAY
BREAKING THE ICE AND CHANTING
OUT YOU GO ICE AND SNOW
A KIND OF FRENZY SEIZED US
BUT THE ICE ENDURED
IT DID NOT RUN BEFORE OUR CHANT
IN THE SPRING WE SHALL RETURN
WONDERING WHERE THE ICE HAS GONE
OR KNOWING RATHER IN THE MIND
THAT SUN AND HEAT HAVE DONE THE TRICK
BUT IN THAT DEEPER DARKER PART OF MIND
TO KNOW THAT CHILL AND COLD ARE NOT JUST WINTER THINGS
THAT TOO OFTEN THERE IS WINTER IN OUR SOUL
AWESOME SHAPES OF ICE THAT OVERWHELM US
COULD WE BUT CHANT THE SPELL AND WISH THEM GONE
BUT COME YOU NOW AND HOLD MY HAND
AND DRIVE FROM ME THE WINTER'S CHILL
I AM AN ICE CHOKED STREAM WANTING TO RUN FREE
I WANT TO BE NOT ICE FROZEN ON THE SHORE
BUT WATER RUNNING WITH THE WIND
COME NOW MY LOVE AND SET ME FREE
COULD WE BUT REMEMBER SPRINGTIME DAYS
WHEN WINTER WINDS PILE ICE UPON OUR SHORE
GIVE ME YOUR HAND
I AM COLD
AND NEED WARMTH

Frank Vollmer