On Meeting Joe Burcher of South Cape May

        On Meeting Joe Burcher of South Cape May

   Under the sea and off the coast
   Under the sea off the coast
   Under the sea
   South Cape May built for us
   then tide made its advances.
   O families would their summers well
   So close to shore no biting insects dwelled.
   On Sundays families fishing took
   some farm some city
   married new and married long
   creatures of the sea,
   and on a pourch afternoons breezes touched
   the salt greyed wood, slowed
   to imperceptable mood, vanities
   silenced by glare & haze & thick sunlight,
   the plaster of these homes. Lordly prince
   and lovely princess of these lands
   to turn to meadow.
   In the winter one would walk it
   through the midnight at the shore,
   light breaking off the water, black eternal
   the frozen sand, his shoes would crack it.
   Joe knew that people lived away
   but sought the freedom frozen night
   and if in the silence a bird flew by
   the air would shatter falling down,
   steps later reassembled. Walking on
   mysterious he wondered: is there such a thing as life?
   On the road that to the Point we take
   South Cape May has been replaced.
   Meadows and nature taking over;
   Joe still lives there. If you see him
   stories may be told. He calls them lies.
   I recommend a morning visit.