I Am Asleep. Poem by RIC BASTASA

the old man who loves the sea
after 70 years
built a boat, which you cannot figure out
if it is really a boat,

for the boat is inverted like a kayak overturned by the waves.
so many storms of his life
so many riddles.

this is the world turned upside down.
the old man writes the map of his life on the sand.
with his finger, and he has to kneel to be able to do so.
his bone broke. he prostrated.

the old man who loves the sea feeds the sea with his own body.
and the hermit crabs crawled.
they want a taste of his wisdom.

the sea claimed everything.
it says: even you, even the land i own.
i am asleep.