Bright Blue

There is a crowd
small but growing
looking out to sea

despite the storm
I walk over
collar up, head down

people point
some are shouting
others look away

I follow the fingers
see nothing but the waves
wild and heaving

a man, talking on the phone
runs his fingers
through his hair

I look again
out to sea
nothing, nothing

something
a piece of wood
a strip of metal maybe

a body
a body
a body

lifeless, far below
far away
unreachable

squinting, I see
long hair, a bright blue dress
the white of her face

the water rises
she rises with it
and we

can only watch
and point
and look away

---

Steve Denehan lives in Ireland with his family. He is an award-winning poet and the author of two chapbooks and four collections.