Islands and you

The photographs you sent
Of you in your youth
Devastated me
Where was I looking?

I did not know of life
Beyond the sea
Of ships or sea currents
To transport me to you

The sun on the sea
Blinded me
Mainland – my home
Offered shade and ease

That land I roamed
Offered transient pleasures, but
Taught no skill to sail a ship
To find an island – and you

And you, far away
Laughed and loved
And moved the earth
With those I knew not of

This is my loss – that
We did not look at ceilings
Silently, beside each other
Spent. on sweat soaked sheets

Dolan Fernandes
June 2008