rising again stumps of oak pine birch willow hazel
emerge from the sand Noah’s trees
their roots stiffened underground protectors of bones
where families were planted centuries ago
and animal and human footprints remain
scatterings of burnt stones from submerged ancient hearths
revealed by equinoctial tides and storms
the dead stay with us like bruises
well maiden no more Mererid’s plaintive call
reverberates on the wind lamenting
the sea swell crashing in flooding
Gwyddno’s lowlands with featureless water
blurred memories of drunken Siethenyn’s cries
ring out as the wild sea swept through open floodgates
covering the contours until each person each animal each tree
drowned hear the watch-tower’s bells toll the secrets of the sea
wishing they are unforgotten on the shore
the opaque sky of Ynyslas is engulfed by metallic bird
calls. A print of a small bare foot preserved
in hardened peat endures
this child bore witness to the loss we too face westwards
into the encroaching sea
rising