by Yohanes Kabes
I stand in the middle of this ocean,
Silent, with lights flickering inside me.
The sea stretches empty, endless,
Yet I can hear the fish singing beneath the waves.A dolphin glides in from the west,
Carrying whispers of someone far away.
Even a thousand-year-old turtle drifts by,
Sharing tales of the seeker on the lone boat.They tell me, “It’s getting closer,”
Their fate-woven hymn humming, “Keep your lights on.”
Waves crash lines of memory against my heart,
But beneath it all, the foundation is faith.Locked in this tower for a thousand years,
Surrounded by the sea that nourishes my soul.
The last time I stepped into the ocean,
My light went out for the wrong boat.The universe arrived as a teacher,
Revealing the worth of my inner flame.
Now I know I am not a seeker of love—
I am the source of love itself.I no longer fear the fire within me,
Even when a thousand proud boats try to draw me in.
I know I cannot leave with a fragile oar,
Nor trade my soul to the passing pirates.I know you’re somewhere across the ocean,
Rowing hard against the current.
The fog steals your direction at times,
But I keep my light cutting through the mist for you.I’ve read every book in this tower,
Tracing each page with quiet care.
I’ve watched pirates seize thousands of fish,
Feeding their ego for a false sense of power.I stand with a magnifying glass in my hand,
My inner light burning with steady clarity.
I know lightning sometimes calls out fiercely,
Striking with all its force to make me fall—
yet I remain.I stay faithful until the right boat comes,
Its scarred hands lifting a lantern.
From the longing carried in the ocean wind,
Let me hold the child in you who never had the chance.When your boat finally reaches my shore,
I will bring you to read all my diaries—
the ones I wrote while the universe prepared me.
I want to hear the stories of your long journey,
Of every beautiful scar etched on your hands.And when the right moment arrives,
Take me out of this tower.
Sail with me into a new land.
Strip me bare with all your love and honesty—
For I want to wear your last name with pride.
Yohanes Kabes, S.S (B.A. in English Literature) is a Melanesian writer, novelist, and poet. His writings and articles focus on themes of spirituality and the inner journey of the human soul — the awakening of consciousness. He also analyzes literary works through psychological and spiritual perspectives, believing that life itself is the philosophy of the universe. In his novels, Kabes often explores the realms of horror, thriller, and mystery. He is also the first to design fashion pieces inspired by his own poetry.
