westerly winds

^{painting and poem by jsburl}

westerly winds
oh do blow strongly
filling my sails
please take me a-way

push my bow faithfully
to part my sorrows
let me fly where
dolphins dance with delight

keep my journey true
with lively zephyrs
where adversity fades as
the sea turns crimson at eventide 

take me to a place where
the sea sparkles sapphires
leave behind my briny deep tears
fill my heart with a whales lullaby 

may the journey never end
with the north star as my companion
lighting the nights
filling the shadowy corners
where nightmares await the forlorn

let my stern face the east where
seagulls frolic in the sun’s first streaks
to sail away from pain and anguish
left behind on the disappearing stretches

keep my spars strong
yet flexible to bow
under the weight of the wind
blowing all my woes asunder

westerly winds
do blow wildly
fill my sails
oh please
bring me a-way

the mourning dove 

i heard the call of a mourning dove
as it floated on the wind.
its haunting tune so lonely
in the silence of the dawn. 

oh why do you sound so forlorn
i wondered, as i looked up at the bird,
when all around you lies beauty
and peace and tranquility? 

from the blooms of flowers
to the glitter of the lakes
and the heavenly blue of the sky,
all there for you to behold
on this gloriously beautiful day. 

once again, she sounded her call
an answer to my query.
it echoed softly in my heart
and all was revealed in truth. 

“i sound as i do,
it’s as it should be,
for this is the song
which God gave me. 

it makes you stop
to listen
and reminds you,
you’re not alone.”