Into
Deep
Water
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
In front of Brooke’s veranda stood a dock.
This wooden altar offered diving height
To deep blue water. He could interlock
With beauty, every beauty there in sight,
By diving into South Pacific waves
Especially if Taatamata saw
His arc. These two had entered love’s deep naves
Together. Rupert plumbed in her the awe
That he had always craved, that doubled love
We always search for. “Purpure” is how
They called him. (He was fair.) The sky above
Them arched to hold them: no black prayer book vow
Was needed. Deepest waters gathered both
Together. Love does not require an oath.
~ Phillip Whidden