Ivar Dahl-Larsen
Well-Known Member
There are islands out there in troubled seas
Where else would an island be?
There are many islands to see
And many I’ve climbed up on
And many I’ve left to others for free.
Not always proud
leaving them behind
But to me they were not,
the right kind.
Others I visited
Gave me great joy
I made mistakes
Relentlessly
Treating them like a toy.
Islands at times were surrounded
By strong currents and waves
with sometimes impregnable reefs.
Some were exhibiting
wonderful, glamorous setting
Luring me onto their shores.
Many an island I came across
Outside were stormy waters
Some were so calm, idyllic and warm
An invitation so hot
My young resistance was not,
Within my borders.
Some were flat
Others were curvy
Some had environment, classy and fine,
But as ever before
Again came the time
To departure and farewell
Contentment was not in my heart or my soul.
As I swam amongst pirayas and sharks
Watching the ruthless sea
There, in the distance appeared to me
The most beautiful island
I’ve seen.
Exhausted, famished and weak
After struggling for years
Through stormy seas
I finally approached the island of my dreams.
There I saw, a swirling stream
Lovely, refreshing or so it seemed
And with a thirst so great
I could no longer wait
Surely I had to try,
at this stage.
To reach for her shores
Was easier thought than done
She held me at bay
And threw me away
Over and over again.
I thought I’d die
Of hunger, exhaustion and thirst
Before I could rest,
my weary head on her ground.
Time and time again I was put to a test
With a thundering sound
I was swept
Again to the sea
pulling me under, - I drowned
in tears and self-pity.
A wave picked me up
Like a defenceless leaf in the wind
I was blown to the shores within,
Gasping for air
Engulfed in her fair
Shiny glittering sand
Lay the pirate drained,
safely at last
on this beautiful land.
Instead of conquering her shores,
Forest, rivers, mountains and hills
As a pirate I’d always been.
There I was sprawled on the ground
And nowhere to be found
Was the fighting spirit
I used to carry within.
she has won over me
I no longer long for the sea,
I’m happy, enriched
I’m feeling so free
This warm, loving, delicate island
Is surely my cup of tea.
She’s a heaven on earth
And ultimately deserves
complete love and devotion
I no longer need
to search for it seems
any island out there in the ocean.
Ivar Dahl-Larsen.
