january
forty seven years
of land loving
i touched
the world
connected to
a wave
my birthday
shaved my
legs so
smoooooth
and silky
new shorts
jimmy buffet
shirt
awed by
sight and
sound
running into
tide
OUCH
shock of
stinging salt
water
risen
ankle to calf
rushed away
pulling sand
from under heel
sink a bit
in sand
and luxury
Padre in
january
girls gone wild
as seen on tv
replaced with
snowbirds
walking hand
in hand
with smiles
not chemically
induced
overpowering
wall of noise
caresses ears
with magnificence
fisherman
off shore
pole in hand
nigh invisible
in morning fog
indifferent
to his
insignificance
simply basking
in possible
bite of the
big one
stand
listen
feel
power bigger
than humanity
bag of seashells
dangled from
my wrist
my birthday
found me
born again
touching world
in wave
Author notes
not sure something so powerful can be put into words. hope i did it justice This is from South Padre Island at the southern tip of Texas.
Written October 15th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- The Sea! by N.W. Clerk.
450 points, ended July 13, 2007, 32 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 19 of 19
-
I agree, the sea can never really be captured, and anyone who thinks it can doesn't understand it at all. However, this is unique (I like unique!), and lucidly put forth. Thank you for entering the contest!
-
Wow, this is a really good write. I felt as though I was standing down the shore, as you disappeared into the foggy sea.
-
Smashing
I was amazed at how personal this poem was, but pleasantly so. The style was so unique, and I love the contribution that you've made to my contest! Great write!
~Griever Frosthane -
This sure isn't like my January's in Canada - cold, cold and very cold, Once I went to the ocean for a tropical holiday in February- nice to get away, hot sun, beach, sand and sunburn! Liked this write - so easy to read and understand.
-
Hehe, I was finding sand in things for weeks to come
-
Wonderully vivid. I could smell the sea air, feel the spray and touch the waves. I think I have sand in my shoes after reading this.
-
Lol, nothing actually. It was simply my 47th birthday and the first time I had ever seen the ocean. Just one of those single moment in time experiences that will follow me into eternity
Thanks for the comment. It is appreciated. -
I feel there is somethnig very interesting nearly being said here but it needs more explanation. What has gone before?
-
I love this ,it is indeed a pice of nice art work..keep penning ..Linda
-
Thanks so much for the comments. It was quite an awe inspiring time for me. Hopefully the next time I go I wont carry so many shells around tho
-
Though I don’t know what the contest calls for in submissions, I have to say that you did one heck of a job describing the sensations that go along with the beach. I loved the bit about sinking into the sand as the water rushes out. That was excellent.
~ John
-
Lol, abigail, it was a bit funny. Of course, I insist on seeing the humour in life. For me, it is as much of the awe and wonder as anything. I would imagine that the ocean waves were laughing a bit at my vanity.
-
great poem probably not meant to be funny but i had to smile at the salty water stinging your legs! you wally ha ha, nice content of description and sounds like a lovley beach well done lol abigailxx
-
I much appreciate the comments. Sometimes when I put my experience into words, I don't know if I simply like the sound of my own voice, or if it really says something to others. Thanks for taking the time to read and let me know how it affected you.
-
Thanks poetess, for the comments. So glad that my experience was able to be shared
-
It was at South Padre Island down around the tip of South Texas. During the college spring breaks it is known for big parties, nekkid girls, loud music etc. There is a --girls gone wild spring break edition-- video promoted on late night television that features some of its beaches. Since I prefer to be my own --girl gone wild-- I never ordered a copy
Since my birthday falls in January I was able to visit when most of the tourists are retired people who take their recreational vehichles and mobile homes south to escape the cold weather of the northern states. They are referred to by the locals as snowbirds.
It was my first visit to the ocean so I was quite taken with it, as you can imagine. I was such a --tourist-- it was pitiful. I have oodles of seashells that I stuff in a bag and carried till my arm hurt .
I learned the hard way about the leg shaving thing. Lol, the sea is a great teacher
-
This is such a wonderful description of the beach. I really liked it a lot. Kept my interest to the very end. Keep up the awesome poetry!!!
-
Excellent
Bravo, you have captured walking into the English channel to a T, I'm not sure where your beach was but i hope you enjoyed it as much as i enjoyed this.
I have an inbuilt fear of the sea, it's big, dark and scarey, even when i'm snorkeling i suddenly get an overwhelming fear to get out.. daft old crone..
pssst a secret i'll share with you, never shave the parts salt water can reach, not that day anyway
-
crystaldust 15-10-05 16:48
You do it more than justice, Thistle, This is exciting in form and content and quite brilliant. Heaps of luck in the contest.
Adding your comment:
1 - 19 of 19
