The Sea at Night (By Sujata Bhatt)

The sea at night, all black

yet distinguishable from the day,

all black.

Close above the sea: a vertical sickle

a flame yellow waxing moon —

and right above the moon;

a chrysanthemum yellow star,

the evening star.

All in a straight line —

so we wondered if this happens

every night or once a century,

we wondered while

the sea swayed, the sky shifted

the moon turned, the star slipped.

And there was no time

for a photograph —

no time, so we watched,

sleepless through the night

unable to lie still

unable to stop talking...