Thomas Crow

LIGHTHOUSE

Here, there is only sand.

Things growing in. On.

Dunes covered in oats.

Small yellow flowers.

Strange cactus.

Grass marshes and labyrinth waterways

like crop circles in a Kansas field

that go for miles out of sight.

The only sound: cold wind.

Too cold for ears

while walking huge beaches

peopled only by pelicans, sandpipers,

and a fleet of shrimp boats

cruising the coastline,

going north.

 

Chilled to the bone,

we pull off the sand-covered,

one-lane narrow road

at the first sign for food.

The hot bowl

of fresh soup

filled with crabmeat

is life saving

and why we came.

To be with waves and wilderness.

To eat from the sea --

 

From the ferry to Okracoke

and horses

we watch the sun set

over the Sound.

Orange sky.

Sea gulls

hovering over the back of the boat.

White beams from the old lighthouse

cutting through clouds.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore April, 2002

Showing us the way.                            

-Thomas Rain Crowe