LIGHTHOUSE

White. Bright.
A keyhole in the darkening sky.
Pronounced and pronouncing:
Telling through the day and night,
pinpointing presence,
signalling safety.

With radiant light
uncurtaining the dark,
and closing in a flash,
the intervals are measured,
watched and welcome.

This totem, now automaton,
stands still a symbol
of man’s care for man;
cushioning the ships
from shore lines
that would shred
frail craft, shed ships
on rocks or reefs.

The telling time
will only come
when all the lights go out.