RANDOM HANDSHAKES - ALI H. RADDAOUI

Friday, November 25, 2016

THE EBB OF THE FLOW

This mass of water
On the west-side border
Has been our Godfather
Three, four, score years or more
So far back as we can remember
I do recall, it was only yesterday
Our granddad in his last hour
Motioning we never ever
As much as dare to start to picture
To break asunder
Our merger with the water
For he’s our protector
From the whims of the Vandals and the Visigoths
Across the water
Over our dominions
Here and yonder
His wings hover
He’s for sure
Our bread provider
Our raison d’être together
Our day-to-day oxygen
And our number one friend
In our hour of need.
And this is our hour of need
And now all Water does is to recede
His flow bathes no more
Our cliffs and shores
Nor has His ebb in His retreat
Taken leave of our dad
Out of protocol
Or merely in honor
Of our just gone by
Golden jubilee. 

Ali H. Raddaoui