I call your attention to a partially trodden path, cluttered with broken rock.
Traverse the rubble;
Make your way through prickly brush
and crush tawny, dying weeds underfoot.
A vista opens out of nowhere, and extends to forever.
Black mica sparkles in white and pink granite
like fairy dust sprinkled blithely by a calm and higher Power.
These steadfast rocks lie juxtaposed to churning waves.
The roar of a forgiving ocean drowns your anxious thoughts.
Crystal tipped waves shimmer brightly in the distance-
White foam forms and dissipates.
One truly believes that the sun will never set on this place.
The erosion lines cut by the never ending tides are reminiscent
of the lines that life has worn into your face.
Climb down to a lower ledge, and descend into your psyche.
These stones, this water-- four and a half billion years old!
The eternity of nature ties you into humanity with a weathered thread.
You've come here to sever the thread.
Wind sweeps past, coaxing you to sacrifice your memories-
whispering a promise that they will be waiting for you
in your ethereal home.
Accept the breeze's soft caress-
This sweetly salted air is the last kiss you'll ever receive.
Fall into a sleep as deep as the sea...
Author notes
Hazard Rock is located in Narragansett, RI. It is a vast expanse of granite bluff/cliff- like protrusions leading directly into Narragansett Bay.
Although it seems to be named Hazard Rock because of the obvious danger of the slick rocks and tumultuous waves, it actually is named after the Hazard family (of Oliver Hazard Perry fame).
A contest entry
- Where I Want To Die by Tercil.
1750 points, ended April 19, 2008, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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That was an incredibly beautiful piece of work in every way. I loved the imagery, the nostalgia, the healing and timelessness of it. Nature heals; what a powerful, powerful poem you have crafted here. So very soothing and comforting;
"The eternity of nature ties you into humanity with a weathered thread."
The eternity of nature; and we are a part of that...
"Wind sweeps past, coaxing you to sacrifice your memories-
whispering a promise that they will be waiting for you
in your ethereal home.
Accept the breeze's soft caress-"
To surrender to Nature, releasing our burdens to Her and to sleep in a peaceful, deep respit from our burdens;
"This sweetly salted air is the last kiss you'll ever receive.
Fall into a sleep as deep as the sea...
This is one of the most wondrous and deeply meaningful writes that I have ever read. I felt every word of it, as I read - as though I were there with you!
The metaphor and imageries you related are remarkable!
Like this one -
"The erosion lines cut by the never ending tides are reminiscent
of the lines that life has worn into your face."
In reading this poem, I felt the sense of it being a final resting place for you, but in a healing sense...
and that you would move on from there rejuvenated.
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Erosion, that intimidating rocky surface, that over time has smoothed. The initial thought on your poem was to find the most uncomfortable feel. and it is not without ctiticism to myself, that those relating to these feelings are as much putting off death and ignoring the fact that paradise was being searched for. There is much pschology in this, that to divert attention to the lost cause, then make it as uncomfortable as possible. It will be a hard decision not to let those greeting me this scenario a place on the rostrum.
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