The Doldrums

Deafening crests confine us,

Here between these nylon walls.

Eight feet to safety, six to the sea,

Thick with ourselves refines us.

Senses distracted by petrel calls,

This castle has stitches of lately-made holes.

Unshaven - like thickets behind us -

The cards and the coffee

And then the blank stares:

The doldrums are encircling

Like the swelling, scoffing gale.

“A decision without consequences,”

Says the curious pelican Dave

“Is no decision at all.”

And he ruffles his curious plumage.

And days and days beyond, that

Pelican call is echoing.

Nylon walls confuse us, hurricane winds intrude;

Hunkering here, with the same blank stares,

Gradually sinking swampward.

Nevertheless, the wilderness

Is breaking upon our mountain-eyes.

Though the fearful doldrums are in flight,

Each is swept away at night

And tide and marsh and hurricane

Surrender to our decisions.