Harbour Lights

I wish I could say Kristofer was writing out of experience here! (The pic above was sketched by Tom Stitt, Sydney 1985).

HARBOUR LIGHTS
12.01.82

THE HARBOUR LIGHTS ARE FADING INTO CRYSTAL EYES.
UNWAVERING, UNBLINKING, THEY PENETRATE THE VEIL
OF MY DEPARTURE; RELENTLESSLY MONITORING THE SHAME
OF MY RETREAT, ACCUSING ME, AS I DO MYSELF, OF COWARDICE.

I’M LEAVING YOU NOW FOR THE LAST TIME.
I’VE PACKED MY COMB AND TOOTHBRUSH
AND THE KODACHROME WITH A SNAPSHOT OF YOU
AND YOUR CRYSTAL CLEAR EYES,
INFLICTING WOUND UPON WOUND
UPON THE HOLLOW WALLS OF MY INDIFFERENCE.

NO FIRE COULD EVER SCORCH ME LIKE YOUR PIERCING GAZE.
UNWAVERING, UNBLINKING,
BUT WITH THE SUMMER SUN IT DID NOTHING
FOR A WOUNDED MAN BEYOND HIS PRIME.

YET I DIGRESS AND I FORGET.
IN THIS HASTY FAREWELL THERE IS NO PLACE
FOR TEARS AND WAVES
OR STREAMERS IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT,
ONLY HARBOUR LIGHTS
FADING THROUGH THE DISTANCE INTO CRYSTAL EYES…

Kristofer