Coastal Epitaphs

[Sigh]

1.

In a caravan near the Kaikoura coast
Incense smoulders in a dish
a cracked crayfish shell
stands open like a red violated tomb
as I gently brush your pubic hair with my fingers
dreaming up epitaphs for us

I can hear the sea pounding the rocks
and sea gulls screeching out lonely cries
to the mountains
and I wonder if I'll ever love a woman
like I love the stars
that gleam in the sky
filling me with a sense of
gladness

or the ocean
with it's magnificent beaches
like ribbons
flagellated by tides

and I wonder if I'll ever settle down
the word 'settle' seems to conjure defeat

2.

Death is a backdrop; before which every scene is played
and all I can think of is how much time I've wasted on this stage

that woman in the caravan is a memory now
and rightly so

3.

Tomorrow is a beacon on a hill
it guides us ever closer to some inexplicable
transformation
which we stubbornly choose to ignore

4.

I walked on grasses lit by moonlight
rippling like an ocean
in the breeze
allowing my senses to remain open
to the scents and noises of the night
to the clouds billowing
and the tastes of various fears
that settled in my mouth
but 'settle' sounds like defeat
so I swallowed them

and boyish dreams
welled up
as I heard the More-pork
calling from some far-off place

the dizzying thing is what we settle for
this material driven life
(and 'settle' means defeat)
those neon signs and gaudy flashings
don't seem relevant here
nor will at death

5.

Sponsorship logos on grave-stones
this epitaph was brought to you
by 'your logo here'

a perfect nipple puckered by the cold
or touch
and dreamy words
uttered by drowsy lovers
in a caravan
lasts longer than any
empty gesture on TV
or in a magazine

6.

Here blow the ashes freely
wild and content
of a spirit who knew and remembered,
always
that flesh was a brief sojourn
gratefully accepted
and fully lived

7.

Rightly so; a memory
far more perfect with another than with me
obviously
but I did at last
think of an Epitaph

though I hope it's a long time
before either of us exit our sojourns

[Tyler]

Sigh,

beautiful. There seems to be a sexual undertone in your poem. Or did i tried to read too much between the lines? ;) Can you share your interperation?

[Sigh]

Tyler,
No, your reading between the lines is pretty accurate;)
My interpretation? Sure:
The narrator begins reminising about a past encounter, his memories are a basically sexual. The line

'stands open like a red violated tomb'

refers to the crayfish (similar to a Lobster) but is also a tongue-in-cheek reference to his lovers body:)
He wonders if he'll ever love a woman with the passion (and loyalty?) with which he loves the universe (God?)

'if I'll ever love a woman
like I love the stars'

He also remembers a conversation they had about the Epitaphs they'd like to have, and how that led on to how everything is so commercialised these days

'Sponsorship logos on grave-stones
this epitaph was brought to you
by 'your logo here'

And finally he finds a fitting Epitaph for both he and her, and in the process, unwittingly writes a euolgy for their relationship.

And somewhere tied in there is a feeling that death provides a 'sharpening' to life...perhaps a thought stirred by all the talk of epitaphs
:)

I hope that helped. And thanks:)