Carrot Island Sleeps— a Kyrielle sonnet
— the smell of salty air
The stores of Beaufort looking on
‘cross waters shorebirds float upon —
wild horses in their bosom keep,
the sands of Carrot Island sleep.
I once found God, wind in my eyes
He hung his face upon the skies
He swam with dolphins, all joy and leap —
the shores of Carrot Island sleep.
The creak of boats, the shine of sun
the gentle shift to “Day is Done,”
the Bed and Biscuit, Blackbeard’s keep —
the shells of Carrot Island asleep.
With lights of Beaufort looking on
the shores of Carrot Island sleep.
Author’s notes:
Beaufort, North Carolina — home of Blackbeard, the famous pirate.
Across Beaufort Inlet is Carrot Island
“Day is Done” references Taps, which I sang in the Girl Scouts as a child.
The “Bed and Biscuit” is a bed and breakfast I stayed at years ago — it is now closed.
There are wild horses and an abundance of wildlife on Carrot Island, which is protected land.
In my opinion, Beaufort, NC is one of the most wonderful places on Earth.
Christina Ward is a poet and nature writer from the beautiful state of North Carolina.
