Betwixt the WInd and Water (Revision)

Betwixt the Wind and Water

As Tillman Swidden finished his eighty-seventh birthday
he suffered pinpricks in his knees sharp-end roadmaps within veins
Hell’s fury felt in red-hued fists smashing betwixt the wind and water
watching other boats (virile) sail out to sea like lover’s trysts of fecundity

He suffered pinpricks in his knees sharp-end roadmaps within veins
while raising harpooned muscle from bitter dock-side chair
watching other boats (virile) sail out to sea like lover’s trysts of fecundity
Gnashing choleric teeth he spit tobacco to gusting salted wind

While raising harpooned muscle from bitter dock-side chair
his ragged wrath rejoiced at nothing; vexed bones bare-viewed to the eye
Gnashing choleric teeth he spit tobacco to gusting salted wind
and turned his back on what he’d passioned--his love-song for the sea

His ragged wrath rejoiced at nothing; vexed bones bare-viewed to the eye
Tillman swore in broken hammered colors with aged lapsing tongue
and turned his back on what he’d passioned--his love-song for the sea
Foul anchor after seventy (lovelorn) years upon her riptide breast

Tillman swore in broken hammered colors with aged lapsing tongue
for knotted fists and gnarled hips kept him from his wet-skinned love
Foul anchor after seventy (lovelorn) years upon her riptide breast
Palsied eye gauged a brazen tempest; sea-kelp lashed at withered wind-worn skin

For knotted fists and gnarled hips kept him from his wet-skinned love
Chipped and frayed, betrayed by age and brittled flaccid lung
Palsied eye gauged a brazen tempest; sea-kelp lashed at withered wind-worn skin
Could she offer no ex-love’s respite while others sailed those sensuous waves?

Chipped and frayed, betrayed by age and brittled flaccid lung
as Tillman Swidden finished his eighty-seventh birthday
Could she offer no ex-love’s respite while others sailed those sensuous waves?
Hell’s fury felt in red-hued fists smashing betwixt the wind and water