by Robert M. Chute
The sea makes no exceptions,
accepts no excuses.
When it asks in the wind, where
are my marshes,
where are the dunes which once
were my pillows,
it does not expect an answer. It
comes ashore searching.
Those who think to live on the land
are not ignored,
they are simply irrelevant when
the sea comes searching.
They call it hurricane and try to
tame it with a name.
Born near the Chute River, Naples, Maine in 1926, Robert M. Chute taught and conducted research at Middlebury College, San Fernando State (CA), and Lincoln University (PA) before returning to Maine as Chair of Biology at Bates College. Now Professor Emeritus of Biology, Bates College, Chute has a record of scientific publication in Parasitology, Hibernation Physiology, General Biology, and Environmental Studies. His poetry and collage poems appear in many journals including Ascent, Beloit Poetry Journal, BOMB, The Cape Rock, Cafe Review, The Literary Review, Texas Review. His poetry books include a three language reissue of Thirteen Moons in English, French, and Passamaquoddy (2002), and most recently, a three chapbook boxed set, Bent Offerings, from Sheltering Pines Press (2003). He is currently working on a series of poems based on reading scientific journals such as Nature and Science.
