Before the Lightening

The sea mist condenses
       in the chill of pre-dawn
 Now rain streams down
       the roof, pocking the sand

 Yet the sea washes evenly
       its morning tide coming in
 Its white caps brilliant
       in this yet-night

 Still the lights of those
       distant villages shine
 Where fishermen are awakening
       to go asea once more

 The landscape silhouettes
       against the slowly 
 lightening sky veiled 
       with that sea mist

 … lightening to a rich, deep blue
 the sea lightening to greyed turquoise …

Lorraine Caputo is a documentary poet, translator and travel writer. Her works appear in over 200 journals on six continents; and 14 chapbooks of poetry – including Caribbean Nights (Red Bird Chapbooks, 2014), Notes from the Patagonia (dancing girl press, 2017) and On Galápagos Shores (dancing girl press, 2019). She also authors travel narratives, articles and guidebooks. In 2011, the Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada honored her verse. Caputo has done literary readings from Alaska to the Patagonia. She travels through Latin America, listening to the voices of the pueblos and Earth.