The Keys

“Florida Keys 2” by Kenneth John

sandy islets in aquamarine

curling west by southwest

curving under the sun

stitch the gulf to the ocean

with salty sweet laziness

needing no clock but the sky

to see time in its easy progression

from sunrise to sunset

ablaze with the colors of leisure

seductively free of pretensions

and pressures a cultural crucible

melting away stress and urgency

gifts of conquistadors calmed

by the balm of these breezes

and lulled by the metronome lap

of this surf to retire their armor

to slow down their heartbeats

and take up the barefoot pursuit

of an utterly tranquil tradition