Beacons

Down by the black waters of the harbour
I try to read beacons that shine in the night
just over the horizon;
Like small, dense, coastal cities
they sit, equidistant and equibright.
Were it not for the knowledge
that these waters flowed out to infinity,
joining the Sea of Japan,
I could believe the points of light brilliant metropolises
dotting the distant shore.

They must be the fishing boats I saw in port
with giant bulbs, strung in lines, from bow to stern.
I wondered at the purpose of those chains of light,
and now I can picture it:
Them burning brightly in the night
Obliterating shadow on deck, for a wide radius
and summoning, from the depths
Fish, scores of fish
mothlike as they flock towards the glow
swirling upwards out of the unfathomable dark.