The day after yesterday

I had drifted for some time 
through thickening mists 
faded Plough for company
dawn’s horizon ahead
mouthing its vanilla hue
casting shadow long behind
on millpond water
and I gripped this groaning mast 
felt the pulsing of a dying wind in its veins
starboard waters lapping me to standing sleep 
until the cawing gulls – 
dipping and cornering 
begged this man to rise from his yesterdays, when 
this mast stood 
with jellied limbs entwined 
in ivy embrace 
while sky's rancid rain emptied 
and every sinuous fibre of being 
splintered into the darkest nights 
faded from the faintest light 
and I
now rounding these islands
breath snatched back
hear my name humming amidst the breezes
and harden it to memory, like salt to rock
between two waves of this sea.