Scott Elder
Death of an Islander
The west wind promises no joy or sorrow
its absence leaves you stunned to sink
fathom upon fathom breathless and wan-
ing choice is beyond your grip a marlin
will stun its prey then circle back but once
your cell phone softly shudders today the
breeze has no end a gull laughs or cries
as the tide rages in
Scott Elder is an American poet and songwriter who lives in Auvergne, France. He has been among the winners of the Teignmouth, Gloucestershire, Guernsey, and Poetry on the Lake competitions, and his work has appeared in Poetry Ireland Review, The Rialto, The London Magazine, Southword, Poetry Scotland, The Moth, The New Welsh Review, among others. His second chapbook, ‘Molly, etc,’ (Rufus Books Publishing) is forthcoming in March, and a third collection, ‘My Hotel’, (Salmon Poetry) is due out in 2026. https://www.scottelder.co.uk/