24 December 2025

By Philip Kuepper

There is something of the Christmas
season about the ocean
this quite cold December morn.
The waves spread like branches
of greenery capped white
with sea froth.
The blue of them appears tinged dark green.
It is an ocean emanating cheer.
I half-expect to see a seabird perch on them
to ornament them.
I can almost hear the waves caroling,
when tide and wind combine
to sing elemental harmony,
the alto tide, the soprano wind,
an ocean in the holiday spirit.
It’s catching, and I find myself
humming along. I move with the waves.
I spread wide my arms, like the branching waves,
my arms a possible perch for the sheltering
dove to ornament.

(6 December 2025)