Tuesday, March 10, 2026

A RISING TIDE

by Gordon Gilbert


AI-generated graphic by NightCafĂ© for The New Verse News.


At high tide the king comes to the shore

and stands upon the sands at water’s edge 


He commands the sea to leave his kingdom

as followers break into loud applause 


TRiUMPhantly he gloats as it recedes 


But alas he tarries far too long 


The tide has ebbed and soon relentlessly

the waters now make their advance

and still the king refuses to retreat

unheeding warnings from his own soothsayers 


He does not, cannot, won’t acknowledge

the inherent truth that laps now at his feet 


All shall soon be swept away

by the waters of the rising tide

just like the foolish pharaoh and his legions

in pursuit of Moses and his people

who when the waters parted chose to follow 

only to be drowned in the Red Sea 



Gordon Gilbert is a New York City west villager. In these trying times, he finds some solace taking long walks along the Hudson River. He keeps hoping things will turn around, waiting on that elusive inflection point, but it keeps receding. Maybe next time… 

Still waiting.