All night the sea slept

All night the sea slept
and in the darkness
whales moved back and forth
unseen
and dolphins explored the coves
rendez-vous were agreed and kept
and lovers took to their beds

All night the waxing moon
and Venus
in the clear sky
and at least a part of the troubled world
was at peace

Day broke and a film
of silver light spread
across the ocean surface
birds took to the air
and it all began again

John Lyons