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Open Poetry #43
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One Clam at a Time
| Open Poetry #43 |
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One Clam at a Time |
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Alison 
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! 
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One Clam at a Time It’s the taste of salt on my lips that I love You know, when the inlet leaves a light kiss (I especially love the taste of salt on your lips). It’s that special time of solitude on the beach. The wind blows cheeks to cherry bomb pink And it is so cold, but a voice whispers One more clam. Dig them one clam at a time. My eyes look the packed sand at my feet and I remember Easter Egg hunts from my past as I seek the dimple of an elusive Razor Clam. It’s a dance we dance, two creatures meeting on a lonely cold, spring beach at low tide. The mountains beam with pride and encourage. One more clam. Dig them one clam at a time. Even though my cut fingertips ache Even though I have sand down my hip boots (did I mention that I love my hip boots?) I walk slowly, eyes lowered, feeling happy as I dance the Clam Dance on an empty ballroom floor - spot, dig, drop and pull clams one by one - I tug as they resist, back and forth we go. The inlet pours water around my arm and we, clam and I, are joined as one. Until s l o w l y I pull free and gaze upon my bounty. My clam, each clam, is a gift to be cherished, and while I kiss the sandy shell, I take pleasure in the beach, the wind, the clams and the taste of salt on our lips. --- Alison |
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| © Copyright 2008 Alison - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Gosh, dear Alison, this is infinitely beautiful... I will be back to read it again, I am sort of clam-Alison-bound right now ... oh! Love you, Margherita  |
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Roniece Dawson-Bruce Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689Sydney, Australia |
wow Ali-girl... this is clamlicious!! I think I'm a bit like that with oysters!! love RDB Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight......... |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
NOTICE: Due to extreme over indulgent clamming operations in the Northwest, clamming is now closed for the season. The management recommends Vienna Sausages in lieu of clams (grin) |
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amusemi Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262A State of Disarray |
You make me long for the sea...so picturesque and beautiful. |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
This sounds like a day in heaven! Beautifully told, Alison. I sometimes crave salt but usually end up with salted peanuts. Would much prefer lips though. Sigh! Helen |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Well, this brought back fine memories... see?  A foursome clam dig...  |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Another 'clam' for my library! I love the way you connect with nature, dear Alison! |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Alison, I could read your poetry all day long ~ that is all 24 hours of it! You expand my world as you invite me into yours!  I thoroughly "dug" this! It's a pearl! (clam pearl) lol Love you! Linda  |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Margherita, It is so much fun and so beautiful - I love clamming. Can you tell? And oh the chowders and pasta and clams and fried clams .. oh yum! xoxoxo Alison ________________ RDB, Ummm, oysters! I have never gotten oysters except from the store .. the bar .. the can .. grins. Those slippery little things do love to get around. xooxoxo Ali-girl ____________________ D  Those cool little sausages in a can? You mean they come from the beach too? I had no idea. None! Whowouldathoughtit. But whatcha mean the beach is closed? Says who! A _____________________ amusemi You made me smile. Thank you for reading and may you feel the salt air on your cheeks again soon. Alison _________________ Helen, More hugs your way. I wish I could send you some cold, foggy salt sea air. xoxox Alison ___________________ Oh Sunshine. I see and I smile. What a wonderful picture. I love memories and I love making new ones. Love, Alison ___________________ Kacy, Thank you and thank you for sharing the bird link. I look forward to spending some time and reading. You so often inspire me. xoxoxo Alison __________________ Linda, I dig you, darling. Thank you and I feel the same way about your poetry. I always smile when I see you have shared again. With lots of love, Alison |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
You are such a versatile poet, Alison. What a joy this was to read, and such a vivid snap shot of summer days. |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Yo Alison, This is all very nice work. I'd advise not kissing sandy shells, you'll get sand in your mouth, and that's bad for the teeth, too gritty. Bobby |
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Jaime Fradera Senior Member
since 2000-11-25
Posts 843Where no tyranny is tolerable |
A beach I sometimes visit in my dreams. a beach I walked when I was twelve years old on Father's day and they took us to South Padre Island, a place I rarely visit in waking life now. ... In my primal beach dream, I am Walking around and picking up sea shells, as our most ancient forbearers must have done, feeling the wind, listening to the rising, crashing sound as waves come in and break, splashing around naked in the shallows, Feeling the changing of the tides, and the slow, rhythmic undulation of the see. I think how, at the seashore it has been that way, felt that way, sounded that way for so many millions of years. every now and then, I dream I'm on a deserted, windy beach. and it is always afternoon. And I feel the distant heat of a Sun low in the sky. I dream of some remote beach that civilization has not yet touched, there is nothing artificial here, just the elements of Wind, Water, the Moon, the Sun and the Earth. No artificial chemical scents here, just the raw organic scent of Death, and Birth., just the natural aroma of Life, herself. our blood is also salty, like the ocean. Like our sweat and like our tears, like our laughter and our longing and our love. bonding us mysteriously together, so that each of us is all of us, and all of us are one; it is something that makes me want to be a part of you, and something that makes you want to be a part of me. But, okay, the Truth. I wouldn't want it to be cold, though ... I wouldn't want to feel cold and ... okay, ... clammy. But maybe it is just as well that I rarely go to an actual beach, because, if I could hang out on the beach all day, like they do in California, where everybody surfs and nobody does anything, It might get boring and I might get tired of it ... Let's see ... what time is it? I'm hungry ... like maybe for a can of clam chowder from the artificial grocery store?????? |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Great poem Alison, much enjoyed. Lindsay |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
BluesSerenade, Thank you for enjoying the day with me. This winter we'll sit down together and share a bowl of piping hot clam chowder. You know, I am really working on becoming a versatile poet. I try to work on other styles and PiP has opened me up to taking the plunge to try. Thank you, Alison ------------------------ Yo, Robert - sand is not an issue if I keep my lips tightly pursed. Thank you for reading and enjoying. xoxoox Alison ------------------------ Jaime, I loved that my poem inspired you to share your thoughts as you did. What a wonderful poem that you wrote of your memories. I can feel the salt breeze and taste the air on my lips. Beautiful, my friend. Alison ------------------------ Lindsay, Thank you, my special friend. Alison |
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scorpio eyes shut Junior Member
since 2008-07-24
Posts 31kerala, india |
brings back many memories,very vivid and evocative. great work. |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
I love the way you describe your world, Alison. You have such a beautiful mind and heart. Ida |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Thank you scorpio eyes shut, I am glad that you enjoyed this one. Alison |
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