The Clam Digger
Nights of thunder, and days of rain
each interspersed with pangs of pain.
The tides come in, the tides go out,
That's what clam diggers are about.
A broken back, and soggy feet,
Suffered to earn his bread and meat.
While lurking threat of sea gull's beak,
Adds menace to a boat named 'Leak'.
The buyer stands, a stranger near,
his stingy price is all that's clear.
Promise of pockets filled with gold
send fragile men to suffer cold.
An interloper with soft claws
grapples a host of small town laws.
While fat men in back bay places
eat the creatures with greased faces
know nothing of harvester's plight,
and cares not of the heron's flight.
Then angry hoards race through his mind..
Until he casts his thoughts behind,
and turns his weary eyes to sea,
and smiles... to feel his life to be
alike the life about him... free!
Author notes
dlbrown
A contest entry
- Prime. Rhyme . Time (Must vote contest) by Legend.
2000 points, ended May 25, 2008, 15 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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Congratulations on your trophy!
How I missed reading you ... Was so busy and it is no excuse.
How are you, Poetess?
Love
Myra
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Congratulations on your Bronze win. I truly enjoyed this write, and felt it might score higher. Well done!
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Congratulations!
~Sonja~ -
This is a familiar scene! I live on the coast...and I even have a bucket like the one in the picture, only mine has cabbage roses painted on it and my husband would get 30 lashes with a wet noodle if he ever put clams in it.
I can't imagine digging them for a living because it is such a back breaking job. I can't dig them, but I've fried up so many limits of mud clams I've lost count. If I make chowder, it never seems to be enough! 
I enjoyed the rhyming and the tale very much! ~ KL
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Excellent portrayal of the life. I grew up among these "salt of the earth" surroundings, and you've captured it!
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I really dig this poem. I love spaghetti and clam sauce too. Heck of a good rhymer! Good luck in your contest!
Regards
A vast reservoir is this mighty sea,
It replenishes my very soul;
It lifts my spirits to heights that be,
Its praises I cannot due extol.
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An excellently told tale I enjoy that you evidently know your subject, and you can tell of it with such flair, and such wonderful flow and rhyme!!!
Thanks for sharing this,
Luck. -
It was my pleasure to read this fine crafted, nice rhymed, easy to read and easy flowing poem. In my modest opinion (but that's only me) maybe it could be a bit better with breaks between stanzas. You could be a good story teller too.
~Sonja~
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this was like cruising down a peaceful highway this was a very nice piece i think you did a very great job a pleasure to read
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You would have to have this life in your blood to endure the hardships the come with the territory... And as usual it is the hand of greed that dims the rewards for the hard work... A really good rhyme scheme and nothing "forced" about it!!! Love the boat named "Leak" too... I was grinning ear to ear!!! Very Nice!
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i think this is very good.
it gives you an 'ucky' feeling while reading it though. it flows very nicely, and your over all composition is very nice. i like this one very much! -
Excellent flow and superb rhyming...this is what rhyme is all about...not forced at all! I absolutely love this from start to finish. Well done and good luck in the contest....not that you need luck with this little beauty.
Shaz xx
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I like the flow of this piece much like the tide.It also reminded me of the Chinese cockle collectors who lost their lives on the beaches of England not so long ago.A wonderful little tale and a most enjoyable read Good luck in the contest Thank you for entering
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I Like This! A boat called "Leak" now that's interesting and could tell a story all of its own I'm sure
The Clam Digger, to me, seems to enjoy what he does, his freedom and fresh air, his lifestyle, though he appreciates the $$ side of the business he appears to be very glad when that is done and dusted and he can return to the sand and begin digging once again.... and smiles!
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