Sky Islands Over Gull Lake Poem by Gordon R Menzies

This was to be our novel, the view
from our little apartment where
a broad expanse of graveled roof
atop the old diaper factory
stretched out before us
grey pebbled endless beach
where rainwater pooled and
caught the blue of the sky
so well it called to gulls
who waded in the illusion
of our own private lake
through ageless summer days
beneath those dreamy clouds
heart's blood purple and red
that drifted there, distant
islands that were our own
and others, farther off,
mountains that bore our names
menthol cigarettes sweet
Costa Rican coffee and
your painted toes against
the cool metal of the balcony
the white gulls crying out
names for the eggs clustered
in the warmth of your womb
me writing them down, and
your dusky laughter turned
to fishes, catching sunlight
dropping into the water
elusive of my endless lines