WAITING OUT THE STORM

I’m waiting out the Storm.

Cowering in the comfort of my castle,

looking out at scudding clouds,

crashing waves, sinking ships

and rolling thunder,

from the sanctuary

of my own  protected shelter.

My heart pounds for those

in boats, caught in roiling water

between points of rocks 

and teeth of sharks,

too far from shore

to swim to safety,

too far from home to turn.

The wind dies and my thoughts

are pulled out outside

but then the sky darkens,

again, and I’m reminded

of how quickly the tide turns,

and how many lives are lost at sea.

I’ll wait another while.

copyright Roisin Duffy