Read the poem ‘La Cathédrale Engloutie’ by Richard Foerster
Maine’s Deep Water Poets Feature Richard Foerster’s “Sunken Cathedral”
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Maine’s literary community celebrated a fresh entry into its growing collection of regional verse this month, when the online anthology Deep Water: Maine Poems published Richard Foerster’s evocative poem “La Cathédrale Engloutie,” translated as “The Sunken Cathedral.” The piece draws on the layered history of a Debussy piano work that, in turn, was inspired by a Breton legend of a cathedral that rises from the sea on clear days.
A Poem Rooted in Myth and Music
Foerster’s poem opens with a striking image of a “sutured scar” that glows at dusk, hinting at wounds that linger in the horizon. The language he chooses—“in a sweetly sonorous fog”—echoes Debussy’s own instruction for the musical piece, underscoring how the poem mirrors the composition’s delicate cadence.
The Breton myth, a story of a cathedral submerged beneath the Atlantic that resurfaces in the clearest of seas, offers a backdrop for Foerster’s exploration of beauty and terror. In the poem, the reader is urged to “open your eyes now,” as an echoing, “another day has come” brings the ancient structure to life once again in the mind’s eye.
The Poet Behind the Verse
Richard Foerster, a nine‑time author, resides in the coastal town of Eliot, Maine. His most recent collection, With Little Light and Sometimes None at All (Littoral Books, 2023), garnered a Gold Medal at the 2024 Independent Publishers of New England Book Awards, a recognition that highlights his standing in the independent publishing scene.
Foerster has long been praised for his vivid imagery, blending the physical and the metaphysical. “I love this poem’s imagery at once of wounds and sky, and the awe with which it limns the nearness of beauty to terror,” a fellow poet noted, underscoring the layered resonance of Foerster’s craft.
Deep Water: A Platform for Underrepresented Voices
Deep Water is a collaboration between the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and the online magazine Deep Water: Maine Poems. The publication is devoted to amplifying voices that are often marginalized in the literary landscape, including Black writers, writers of color, indigenous voices, LGBTQ+ authors, and other underrepresented groups.
“Deep Water is especially eager to share poems by Black writers, writers of color, indigenous writers, LGBTQ+ writers, and other underrepresented voices,” the magazine’s call to action states. The platform invites submissions until the end of the calendar year, providing a space for diverse stories and poetic styles.
Megan Grumbling, a Portland‑based poet and writer, is part of the editorial team. “La Cathédrale Engloutie,” ©2026 by Foerster, appears in the anthology by permission of the author, exemplifying the magazine’s commitment to showcasing high-quality regional work.
How to Submit
Poets interested in sharing their work with Maine’s growing literary community can submit through the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance portal. All entries are accepted until the end of 2026, and the submission guidelines emphasize inclusivity and creative freedom.
To explore current issues, learn more about the magazine’s mission, or submit a poem, visit mainewriters.org/deep-water.
Deep Water’s latest issue demonstrates how Maine’s literary scene remains vibrant, drawing on both local roots and far‑off legends to create a tapestry of voices that resonate across the state’s coastlines and beyond.
