Poem: "Water-Roads"
This poem came out of the December 7, 2010 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from siege and janetmiles. It was sponsored by janetmiles.
Note that both "swan-road" and "whale-road" are kennings. While "whale-road" consistently means "sea" or "ocean" the application of "swan-road" is more diverse and has implied "sea," "river," or "sky." I'm using the latter below, but the whole poem really focuses on the connection between air and water.
Water-Roads
The roads of water lie above and below.
The swan-road in the sky lays a path for migrating birds.
They ride from one continent to another on a river of wind,
bobbing on waves of cloud.
The whale-road in the sea lays a path for swimming cetaceans.
They go where the currents take them, through waters warm and cold,
salty and fresh and full of food.
There is air in the ocean,
blown by the whales and breathed by the gills of fish.
There is water in the sky,
carried there by sun-beam and goose-down.
Wind and water are the flow of the world,
cloud and fog, rain and snow.
They are the blood and breath of the turning Earth
and all that travels upon it or within it.