Stairs to the Sea
By: Madeline Nugent
I stood there on the stairs leading to the sea
led by innocent feet to this edge of the ocean.
There stood I, staring at the waves who stared back at me--
What was held beneath the tides? Peering into waters lonely
seeing apparition memories of those long sunken.
I stood there on the stairs leading to the sea…
Night shrouded rocky shores and distraught souls left weary,
listening to the silent calling of that steadfast siren
There stood I, staring at the waves who stared back at me--
Chains of water that would bind myself to thee
To whom belonged those bones swaddled by bed of ocean?
I stood there on the stairs leading to the sea…
Whispers reached my ears as they had girls once promised to free
How arms that reached to envelope would feel so lovely!
There stood I, staring at the waves who stared back at me--
Those silent waves coaxed me to the depths’ expectancy.
I took a step with one hesitating motion…
I stood there on the stairs leading to the sea…
There stood I, staring at the waves who stared back at me--
led by innocent feet to this edge of the ocean.
There stood I, staring at the waves who stared back at me--
What was held beneath the tides? Peering into waters lonely
seeing apparition memories of those long sunken.
I stood there on the stairs leading to the sea…
Night shrouded rocky shores and distraught souls left weary,
listening to the silent calling of that steadfast siren
There stood I, staring at the waves who stared back at me--
Chains of water that would bind myself to thee
To whom belonged those bones swaddled by bed of ocean?
I stood there on the stairs leading to the sea…
Whispers reached my ears as they had girls once promised to free
How arms that reached to envelope would feel so lovely!
There stood I, staring at the waves who stared back at me--
Those silent waves coaxed me to the depths’ expectancy.
I took a step with one hesitating motion…
I stood there on the stairs leading to the sea…
There stood I, staring at the waves who stared back at me--
Writer's Statement: Stairs to the Sea was inspired by a book I read long ago and my personal experiencing of the intense emotions one feels when encountering stairs that lead to nowhere and the emotions of the transition into womanhood and the fear, dread, and temptation it brings.