I Will Bring Infinity Back to You, My Ocean
Frontenac, MO
2024, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
“Here is where infinity was born,” you said,
as the fireflies stole light from the stars, our
kitchen singing the melodies of frying tempura.
But tonight, I think, infinity never existed.
Its blue rhythm gone under the shadowed sea-walls,
periwinkle skies pour into our glasses of mugicha
and it is now that I remember: so much is gone,
infinity is lost. All that is left is just our heartbeats,
galloping across the sand’s whispers beneath us.
Right here I lure the salt scent to my pockets, to
my blood and lungs, body coated in the sound
of passing ships, like hums from ancient mariners
navigating the cerulean labyrinth of my soul.
With you, sweet ocean, I believe old myths,
recounted by the gods when they knew nothing of
land but only of the sea; clamoring flutes and larks clinging
onto stories about ningyo, her teeth like golden fish.
“But there were so many more,” you claim.
“Many more before weather became a weapon.”
“Nature was gentle, no need for a lesson.”
You would not taste air.
calm, the ocean tide as your robe.
Calm, in the neon line that splits the sun and sea,
whilst the moon waits to be seen,
aching to paint your waves a lustrous silver,
ready to fight on behalf of you.
Ready for humans to bring infinity back to you.
Reflection
Reflection
To write this poem, I researched about the ocean and mass fish kills, learning that they not only imperil the existing fish population but also minimize the global food supply for all animals. My climate story is that my grandmother and I used to visit the beach often, but over the years, we have witnessed massive fish kills due to the changing climate, which broke our hearts. This inspired a line in my poem: “but there were so many more,” emphasizing the loss and the finite nature of our environment. My poem advocates for my audience to fight to restore the beauty and abundance of the ocean and its marine life — or as I write in my poem, “to bring infinity back to you [the ocean].” This contest allowed me to reflect on the significance of the ocean in my life and the deep sadness I feel over the destruction of its ecosystems. I am the founder of Auvert Magazine, which acts to raise climate awareness through poetry and has reached thousands of people. This is why I really love Bowseat, as it shares a similar goal of blending art with climate action. I believe this is a highly effective way to unite people into a beautiful and passionate community dedicated to tackling climate change, one of the most pressing global issues today.