Seaside, OR

By Caroline Liberatore

---

A stranger made himself a home
by the sea and sang a serenade
of harmonic breath, meekly rendered
through a child's instrument.

The gulls, mesmerized, enveloped
the friend and his melody.
Or perhaps, were themselves
folding and unfolding in ecstasy.

Such is the rare bliss of wordless
sermons. That humble refrain,
a mere sidewalk jingle, raptured
their wings and carried them home.

---

Caroline Liberatore is a poet from Cleveland, Ohio. She has also been published in Ekstasis Magazine and Ashbelt Journal.

Caroline's other work on Foreshadow: 
Library Liturgy (Poetry, February 2022)
Ecology (Psalm 84) (Poetry, August 2022)
Unearthings (Poetry, September 2022)
April Snowfall, a Mercy (Poetry, April 2023)
Grievances (Poetry, June 2023)