Between the Worlds

Hot green haze
Fading to bluing gray in
Onrushing tropic dusk
All edged with burning orange in the utter west.

Above these towers now, over
Old Batavia, tier on tier
Clad with the emblem of the verdigris
Mermaid Arabica and her twin tails.

Java, garden of the east all
Jade, Adamite, Chrysoberyl, Chalcedony, Amazonite,
Emerald archipelago between
Never the twain to meet, East and West.

Crossroad of ancient empire
Qin and Brahmin, Dutch and Britannic
Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie
Shell and Exxon Mobile
Lapped by muddy waters
Off mangrove coasts
And orient religions all
Jesuit, Nestorian, mullahs, monks
In saffron robes and red.

But the waves that wash our
Hearts, brothers, sisters, soul fishers
Are azure and sea.

We then, carry his love,
Floating flame burning within the breast
Sailing in light of brilliant blue
Though to shore-bound view
These vessels drift in the foggy gray
Between the worlds.

July 2007 - OC, Singapore