Look
there, Love,
across the starboard rail
across the starboard rail
a
new world rises
nascent from the sea,
nascent from the sea,
arches
its green spine,
and belches howls
and belches howls
up
to the gods.
The old ones have foretold
The old ones have foretold
a
refuge here from thirst,
a respite here from doubt.
They have foretold
a respite here from doubt.
They have foretold
a gentle soil
rich
for growing
orchards, children, us.
orchards, children, us.
As
we glide these
last few meters into
last few meters into
shore,
we must remember
everything they said:
"It is a place
that will hurl hail
everything they said:
"It is a place
that will hurl hail
from
metal skies,
and crack and buckle underfoot.
The land will leap at you
with teeth, and seethe
irascible with ice.
and crack and buckle underfoot.
The land will leap at you
with teeth, and seethe
irascible with ice.
Be
quick! Be lithe! Revise
your maps, revise again —
no one's been exactly here.
your maps, revise again —
no one's been exactly here.
The
land will change
and we will change.
and we will change.
There
now we have landed.
Here we go.
Here we go.