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Atlantic Ocean Sybil Austin Skakle Beneath cloud-free skies, I’ve often seen you Your surface as calm as ocean can be Watched in awe your fury as thunderous  Waves sent spray skyward I have tasted your brine upon my tender lips Buoyant in your arms under the hot sun Have watched the sea gulls soar above me Seen sun rise from horizon’s rosy edge And moon cast silver upon your dark face Listened to your lullaby, as I slumbered    Shared with you joy, betrayal and sorrow  Sought your comfort and counsel in trials Known your moods in summer, spring, winter, fall Your azure expanse reaches beyond view Your depths are like mysteries of Heaven Atlantic Ocean, heard at my birth, My remains at death will lie near your voice. This poem first appeared in A Celebration of Poets, Published by the International Library of Poetry, 1998

Righter Publishing Company, Inc., PO Box 105, Timberlake, North Carolina 27583

Abiding

Free in your love, Lord,
Is my place to be.
Lord, change everything
Unlovely you see.

Mold me in beauty
Secure in your will
Quieten my spirit
And keep my heart still.

Guard me from error.
Deliver from fear.
Please, may I find you
Revealed everywhere.

-Sybil Austin Skakle

July 23, 1982

Giant Ice-shrouded trees
shiver and shudder
as sun struggles against
the somber gray sky
Elongated cubes fall
from their branches
bouncing and dancing
littering the grass
with shiny glass shards-
translucent jewels -
soon melted to purchase
new clothes for spring

Breezes of fairy wings flutter ash, willow oak

and bamboo leaves,

Chase final days of March off stage.

A large willow branch, fallen by a storm,

dominates left garden area

Daffodils, as full of tears as I, hang

heavy heads along the garden walk.

Hyacinth and crocus have faded and

Candytuft is on stage.

A robin, contemplates bird affairs –

Planning a nest and worm stalking.

Far right, deep-pink blooms of the red bud

peek through a dogwood tree curtain.

Tree shadows appear and disappear, like

dancers cued by the sun, which is

Intent on dispelling storm-clouds and warming

and drying the damp earth.

Watching this drama, after last night’s

violent storm, I know

My tears will dry, my hope return and joy

will fill my spirit once again.

Beauty, like spring flowers will replenish

My life’s stage once more

I pray for gentle rains and for safety –

when other storms arrive.

~ Sybil Austin Skakle