We arrive at the shore
like so much flotsam
and wander the trackless wastes
of our own thoughts
and souls, searching.
We come seeking for that
which we value most;
whether it be the material like
cockles, driftwood, seaglass
or the ethereal quests for
answers to questions deep:
Is there a god? Why me? Why not?
ever searching.
We gather there to tan our bodies,
to play in crashing waves and
socialize over marshmallows toasting,
to love and to make love and to look
for love…
We will continue to come
until that day when the sea
shall give up its dead
along with its treasures
and its pleasures
and the secrets
sunk beneath
or riding on
the waves.
It is only then
that we may truly
find.
Author notes
Inspired by the contest thought:
Everything loose in the world
seems to drift toward the sea
and usually winds up on
the beach somewhere...
A contest entry
- Dig Deep (CONTEST) by Touchof1der.
600 points, ended July 21, 2007, 9 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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By random search I found this interesting and well written poem. It is no wonder to see shiny gold tropy on this site.
~Sonja~
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You make me want to enter more contests lol, you seem to get so inspired by any little thing and you create such beauty from such a small thought. I loved this part "to love and to make love and to look
for love…" The ocean is the great romantic, but then this poem could mean lots of things, the shore does not have to be an actual place... just a vista somewhere where we can travel to and look out over our hopes and dreams, our fears and futures.
This is beautiful zt (as usual)
~Kar
p.s. have you ever been published? I want to know you when you are famous ok? dont forget me
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Aww...thanks! Yes, I have been published. I haven't really pursued publication for a while now, though it still occasionally finds me. If I ever finish one of the three books I'm working on, I'll have to jump into that process again. If I get famous, trust me, you would never be forgotten.
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oceanic action...
my face is wet from the mist, man. i dig the shore materials and their pertinent essence in visiting the shore line. What the sea has to give up is concept too large in proportion for this feeble mind to comprehend though. But search, we must.
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I had to come read this again..
Suddenly I feel very drawn to the shore, and to the treasures one finds there. I love this piece so much.
I can't wait until you post some new poems!!! -
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The seashore often calls and must be answered. Glad this poem touched you as it has. I am in the process of polishing up something to post. So you should see something soon. Thanks for stopping by... ~smile~
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Gold trophy YAHOO! I dunno about you but that always makes my day! You deserve it to. You are such a talented writer! I have always found myself attracted to the sea actually. Now perhaps I know why (smile)
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I read through the lines here more than a few times and each time presented me with new thoughts and image... I like it when written work does that. This to me is a wonderful piece of art... a poetic masterpiece. This is going into my save files with all my other favorites that I like to read over and over again. I'm impressed. Thank you for taking the time to enter my contest and sharing your divine wisdom and outlook with us. Good luck!
♥ Touchof1der -
"I must go down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship
and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song
and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face
and a grey dawn breaking." ~ John Masefield~ sigh~
You know how I feel about the sea...
I love the way the tone progresses as the poem shifts. To me, what seems at first to be metaphore becomes subtle personification and the focus moves from:
our own thoughts
and souls, searching.to:
crashing waves and
socialize[ing] over marshmallows toasting,
to love and to make love and to look
for love…
And with that transition the language aquires a definite touch of nostalgia - a feeling of love and loss - that tugs at the heartstrings and stirs up such a sense of deep longing along with the final mysteries and unknows that all of us must one day face.
Thank you for sharing this and good luck in Kimberley's contest.
LM ~ YL
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I love that Masefield poem and that was where my title came from. My first attempt at an entry to this contest was a rhyming poem that gave a nod to Masefield, but I just don't like my rhyming work and fell back to free verse. Glad you liked this!
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Exquisite
It's true we are forever seeking. And that ever- restless water is where we gaze, as if into a crystal,
for all our answers. Driftwood and seaweed and shells, some broken, some whole (though fragile) rest on sunwarmed sand. There for our taking are answers..but as you suggest, we do not truly find them until we stop looking...and allow the answers to search for us. Enjoyed this. It's extremely insightful. Smiled at your author notes.."Ain't it the truth?...Ain't it the truth?"
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very cool
I really liked this. I love how it leaves a lot for the reader to contemplate, such as what exactly is "everything loose in the world" and why does it wind up on a beach? It also gives the feeling of a person being "washed up" in life. Which I suppose is one reason why we go on vacation - because we need to get away from all the strife of life.
Well done, ZT!
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fascinating
I really did love this piece. It was unusual and unique, but spoke to everyone. It seems like we do go to the sea to search... everyone for somethint different. I always find myself contemplating the meaning of life as I walk along the shore. I actually wrote a poem about the realization that came to me as I was photographing the sun rising on the shore at Cherry Grove, South Carolina (much too early in the morning).
I wonder what realizations would come to me if I were watching the sun set on the Pacific Ocean?
I love the words you used here to convey your message. They seemed to be expertly chosen and fit perfectly. Well done Jim!!!
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I think this is wonderfully penned. It really makes the reader stop and ponder your words you have laid before them. I love the way this penned. It rolls off of the tongue just like the waves you mentioned in the poem. Best wishes in the contest!
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This is such a pleasureable read- have enjoyed every bit of it - right from the soft philosophical bit to the happy actual happenings at the beach -the poem leaves you feeling very good and peaceful within -'that we may truly find.'-very beautiful
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very pretty zt
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