Waves Copyright © Colin Whyles 30th January 2011

(A respectful response to Maggies Hambling's remarkable series of paintings of Suffolk waves)

(This poem was reworked and the improved version is here. This version is left for academic purposes).

Wave upon wave
one thing to say
so many ways
again and again

A still-born sea
lies thinking deep
brooding, breathes,
sighs, dreams

Begins with whispers
into ears delivers
hints of vistas
glister softly
but unsurprises when anger blisters
for eyes that look and never listen.

Passion stored
so still before
won't be ignored
when broken, poured
on trembling shore

Always from waves gently lapping
ignored until my rage is battered
on the shore my body shattered

Cease your looking, staring, gawping
listen to my boiled blood curdling
Listen! listen! stop your scrawling

Why my broken body holds you
in its thrall, why it involves you
in your drawing, sketching, painting
when my squalls of pain dissolve to
nothing on your oily brush
a broken carcass on your canvas
nothing but a swirling rush

You paint my anger
paint my screams
but never paint
my sleep or dreams