half-mast

Leonardo the oldest
of the fishing fleet
blessed with holy water
good weather/the sea’s bounty/grace

Leonardo a scapula
of half-mast Italian flags
still hearing the sea swallow
Vincenzo/Gennaro/Paolo/Ronaldo

Leonardo circling like a wreath
where they disappeared circling
like a plughole begged back
by priests/with candles/with lanterns

Leonardo overwhelmed
even in Rita’s painting
Boats Island Bay even
on the postage stamps and posters
Leonardo/half/hearted

half his mast now finials
on the roof of a boatshed
guiding like wooden stars
mothers/of wanderers/here below

Kerrin P Sharpe

Kerrin P Sharpe has published four collections of poetry (all with Te Herenga Waka University Press, Wellington, NZ). Her 5th book Hoof, also to be published by Te Herenga Waka University Press, is forthcoming in October 2023. She has had poems published in a wide range of journals both in NZ and overseas, including Oxford Poets 13 (Carcanet Press), Blackbox Manifold, Poetry (USA), PN Review and Stand.