Mazatlan Surrender

My watch is filled with worry
as you stroke me with your song
I rise and hear you calling,
"Drop your shield and come along!"

Each morning you're awaiting
my arrival on your floor.
Through burning sands I hurry,
running barefoot to your shore.

Across your shifting threshold,
gingerly, I move along
I see your lips are moving,
"Drop your shield and come along!"

In foaming froth I cower
from each chilling, churning rise
as waves of warning signals
splash across my upper thighs.

With each retreat I inch ahead
my body not my own,
it heeds your underworld commands
forsaking what is known.

Then deeper, deeper still, I go,
the battle’s now a rout.
I signal my surrender
with the flag of joyous shout.

So, I am now a part of you
I’ve joined your laughing chants.
Pushed and drawn, I’m moving
to your rhythmic nature dance.

With childish excitement now
I stare out through your spell,
watching, wide-eyed, waiting
for your next engulfing swell.

In no time, here you come again!
I tell myself, "Behave!"
but run and dive and let my
soul be carried on your wave.

And one after another, your
unceasing ebb and flow
has left me wobble-legged
stumbling through your undertow.

When dusk is near, I turn to leave,
my legs come back to me.
My heart is full of laughter
as I stomp out of your sea.

I roam along the beaches
past the campfires and the tents
I see the ragged faces
and I smell the battle scents.

Back here, back in the trenches
with the sad, embattled throng
I call to those who hear me,
"Drop your shield and come along!"

© 1998 William Edward Isles

The concept of this poem, and thus a rough draft of basic phrases, was written in Mazatlan, Mexico on February 17, 1998 between midnight and 2am.

A draft was written on March 2^nd (at the same time of night). The version published here was completed March 4^th, 1998.

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