The Nauther

Fifteen years ago on this day, I was on a ship after having scuba-dived to watch the marine life off the Kavaratti Island of the Lakshadweep group of islands. That ten-day trip had inspired me to write several poems, including the Forgotten Raven, and an essay, other than a formal report. I present five poems and the essay here in unedited form, to remember that time and the influence of the moon and the sea on me. This was my early foray into writing, especially poetry, influenced heavily by the music I was listening to, books and poetry I was reading, and thoughts I was having. 1. Moonlord As the wind pierces the ocean And the waves soar up and high, When the stars lay out in the open And the sea sways with a sigh!   As the sky turns into darkness In the eastern sky is born a light Alone he grows upon the vastness And shines out into twilight!   Moonlord! Awakened by an easterly gale On the throne of starry night he shall hail! Over us he stares as in the sea

Written in June of 2007, this poem is a mixture of my feelings of a sinking ship and my first voyage to the sea when as a student I visited the Lakshadweep Islands in the Indian Ocean. Followed he the Sea a-breeze with blissful eyes and buoyant wings, nigh he sailed upon the westerly gale towards the Isle of Living Sands. Blue was the sky against the dark hue that filled the sea and for he it was new, dwindling beneath the waves strewn he dived, startled, in the infinite blue, and there he saw eerie beings who had no wings nor feathers. They possessed a shiny appearance and a tail that they used to paddle. Weary Raven fought to soar but in vain his struggle went so he raised his head and strained his eyes to see the Isle by the end. He did not live to tell his tale and he became lost forgotten, his life ended in an unfortunate event and this is an ode to the forgotten Raven.