Tales Of The Tempest Poem by Greg Gaul

This poem is actually a "Poetic Triptych", three poems on similar topics with a common theme. Like a triptych in painting, each work is slightly separated. In 2014, Kurt MacPhearson with Alice Fulton following in the same year, wrote the first poems of this type to my knowledge.

Life's Tempests

We ride the waves of innocence
on the ocean of The Now.
From the depths of dank
the evil stalks our bow.
It's little that we can do
to keep all our decks so clear.
For in our minds as we list each way
the demons are right here.
Storms rage from time to time,
yes they come and go.
When the next one pops up dear Captain,
one will never know.
That's the fateful tale for those
who go off to sail the sea.
For all of us that's the truth
that's forever meant to be.


Tempest Deep

I ride the waves of innocence
on the ocean of The Now.
From the depths of dank
a demon stalks my bow.
On deck afraid, alone I stood
quelling fear the best I could.
Furled the jib and reefed the main
what you do when the wind's insane.
Then rising atop a stormy swell
the giant beast straight from hell.
Peering so deep in its deathly eyes
I could hear a thousand sailors' cries.
The chilling truth that I could see
was the evil thing in fact was me.


Tempest Bright

One rides the waves of innocence
on the ocean of The Now.
From surging swells a siren sings
and steps upon my bow.
Through a break in brightening skies
I see hope deep within her eyes.
As parting darkness moves to light
she reaches out, I hold her tight.
Together we look for what's ahead
nothing can stop us, no fear to dread.
With our new setting well in hand
she's on the bow and sights this land.
It's on a far and distant sea
till we make port in Tranquility.