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Open Poetry #29
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Ratleader
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0 posted 2003-10-01 01:21 AM



Seaside Turning

it’s long past the time
of gathering shells,
bare shouldered
in the sunlight,
long careless hair
cascading like
the water that slides
over the sand castle

today there will be
only her steps
in the dampening sand,
no castles anymore,
only steps and
the halves of shells,
white traces left
behind by little lives

Hem deep now,
even her steps fade
as she makes them,
and quiet, demure,
she turns her back
to the sea

daring waves

© Copyright 2003 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved
Kaoru
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where the wild flowers grow
1 posted 2003-10-01 01:27 AM


Amazing work.. As with everything you write, I'm put into awe..
Mistletoe Angel
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2 posted 2003-10-01 01:50 AM






(big hugggssssssss) But as she turns away into the waves, you can feel her heart beat and as the ebb keeps coming in softly, you know she is truly still here! (sigh) God Bless You, sweet friend, I love this, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Ed, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sun set and I perceive

***Live***

dingusjr
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since 2003-09-24
Posts 415
Missouri
3 posted 2003-10-01 04:13 AM


Shells, huh?  And who is this woman who haunts you so?   Nice job!   Larry
passing shadows
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since 1999-08-26
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displaced
4 posted 2003-10-01 04:15 AM


a memory just came back

thank you

1slick_lady
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since 2000-12-22
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standing on a shadow's lace
5 posted 2003-10-01 06:24 AM


nice waves...h
LeeJ
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since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

6 posted 2003-10-01 06:33 AM


lovely setting and poem...very much enjoyed, your work is always caring and filled with emotion.  
Janet Marie
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since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

7 posted 2003-10-01 08:08 AM


it’s long past the time
of gathering shells,
bare shouldered
in the sunlight,
long careless hair
cascading like
the water that slides
over the sand castle

today there will be
only her steps
in the dampening sand,
no castles anymore,
only steps and
the halves of shells,
white traces left
behind by little lives

========================

no no no...it cant be past time ...
I wont let it be.......
you know Im loving this wistful write of the waves....beautiful imagery and personifi
poet sir...I'll just have to hope that you will write of the tides to tide me over thru winter.

"If you feel heartbreak, distant thunder, lightning, earthquakes ...
If you wonder why the earth moves ... this is me missing you."

JH

littlewing
Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655
New York
8 posted 2003-10-01 09:01 AM


Ed, you write with such grace

long careless hair
cascading like
the water that slides
over the sand castle

beautiful stanza, I saw that
and she sounds like is a new soul
indeed
beautiful
xxoo

Martie
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California
9 posted 2003-10-01 11:12 AM


Ed....Such a pretty portrait of a beautiful woman.  
Ericc
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since 2003-01-31
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10 posted 2003-10-01 11:30 AM


Simply beautiful.
Eric

Sunshine
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Listening to every heart
11 posted 2003-10-01 11:30 AM


it’s long past the time
of gathering ...

~*~

A woman is touched
by just those very words...

because of all she holds dear,
and the fact that she is
a gatherer by nature...

Marge Tindal
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Florida's Foreverly Shores
12 posted 2003-10-01 06:54 PM


Ed~
A very quiet *sigh*~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram
   noles1@totcon.com     

suthern
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Louisiana
13 posted 2003-10-01 07:28 PM


Your pen is as effective as any brush could ever be... with your palette of words you've created a beautiful portrait of a special lady... Excellent work... yes! *S*
vlraynes
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since 2000-07-25
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Somewhere... out there...
14 posted 2003-10-01 08:40 PM



Ed...I tried to choose some favorite lines,
but I just love the whole of this.

Absolutely gorgeous, my friend.

Hugs,
~Vicky

When the power of love overcomes the
love of power the world will know peace.
-Jimi Hendrix

Aenimal
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since 2002-11-18
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the ass-end of space
15 posted 2003-10-01 09:28 PM


I'd tip my hat in respect if i wore one
BluesSerenade
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since 2001-10-23
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By the Seaside
16 posted 2003-10-02 02:45 AM


it’s long past the time
of gathering shells,
bare shouldered
in the sunlight,
long careless hair
cascading like
the water that slides
over the sand castle

How sweet, fulfilling, and brief~
Geeez Ed~  This is lovely~

Susan Caldwell
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since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348
Florida
17 posted 2003-10-02 02:50 AM




We should never stop making sand castles..

Reminds me of the song (okay so I am dating myself..shhh) "Seasons in the Sun"  oh that was a good song...

Susan

n2dmystic
Member
since 2003-09-27
Posts 253
beyond the doors of perception
18 posted 2003-10-02 02:59 AM


gawd! who sang "Seasons In The Sun"?  beautiful write!!! may she come on a wave of love...

Peace, Joe
in the big MT
seeking the serendipitous magical mysteries of life's ubiquitous twisteries

strings0305
New Member
since 2003-10-01
Posts 6

19 posted 2003-10-02 05:35 PM


First off: Thank you for leaving a comment on my poem.

And secondly, this is a great poem. I'm reminded of long black hair, and fair skin. *chuckles* Despite the fact that the sentiment portrayed in the read I'm thinking of is not similar to this at all :p.... The poem I'm thinking of - 15th century Japanese? Something like that. Rambling aside.

While I can see the sad undertone that others have mentioned, I don't particularly see this poem as a manner of expressing grief - although, I could be terribly off ;p. What I see is appreciation, tinged with the aforementioned sadness. Now, given the fact that the narrator isn't always the author of the poem, I believe that the narrator is seperated from the woman who is "bare shouldered/in the sunlight" in some way - true. But at the same I see no particular finality. Be this because the seperation is only temporary, or because the seperation is permanent but the mere memory of this woman "daring waves" brings a small, sad smile to the narrator's face.

Suggestions. "cascading like/the water that slides/over the sand castle" Great lines, but at the same time, cascading and slides, in my mind, don't seem to mesh. I might suggest adding something about the hair color and a subsequent comparison to add to the personal feeling of the poem. Maybe something like:

cascaded like (insert color here) lace,
(color again) water sliding over
sandy ramparts.


Now, if the hair color happens to be black, or something far-fetched, simply toss in another image where the color would appear the second time.

"black, reflected in water,
sliding over sandy ramparts."

And yes, I like to arbitrarily toss in adjectives! :P... Maybe throw one in in front of water? ANYWAY, this is getting long, so I'll come to a close.

A great poem, I look forward to reading more. Especially since I have an aversion towards more structured poems :P

Greeneyes
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In Your Poetic Mind
20 posted 2003-10-02 08:49 PM


I so love when you write of the sea.....and how "she" means so much.....you bring those memories back, that touch the deep of me.....few can.... hugssss you....touching as always.....
Lauren~

The way you move me
I walk with your shadow
With your silhouette
Leave the light on
It always comes
Back to you

angelblueyes
Member Elite
since 2003-07-19
Posts 2148
Oklahoma
21 posted 2003-10-03 01:18 AM


These waves were nice to see from your view.
Crystal

Edder
Senior Member
since 2003-04-02
Posts 671

22 posted 2003-10-03 02:19 PM


Ok, we already share a name...how about sharing some of that muse?
Ratleader
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23 posted 2003-10-03 02:30 PM


Hi, Edder..... That particular muse lives a lot closer to you than she does to me.....couple thousand miles closer in fact.

I've been called that same name a bunch, mainly because I've got that "R" last name I think....and a whole bunch of other ones....at least with that handle they don't sing to you about horses!

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

Susan Caldwell
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since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348
Florida
24 posted 2003-10-03 03:22 PM


ahem...anyone know who did "Seasons in the Sun"????
Ratleader
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25 posted 2003-10-03 08:20 PM


I've had a few....and I look forward to many more. Any kind of sun you can think of.

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

vlraynes
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since 2000-07-25
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Somewhere... out there...
26 posted 2003-10-04 01:51 AM



Susan?...yes...that was Terry Jacks.

And, shhhh...I loved that song too...
enough so, that I recorded it onto a CD...

When the power of love overcomes the
love of power the world will know peace.
-Jimi Hendrix

[This message has been edited by vlraynes (10-04-2003 01:53 AM).]

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348
Florida
27 posted 2003-10-04 10:00 AM


Thank you Vicky!  (I wonder what year it came out, I want to know exactly how badly I dated myself...lol)
garysgirl
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Florida, USA
28 posted 2003-10-04 10:10 AM


Ed, you have showed in your painting of words
just how beautiful "she" is. You know that I love
your writing. I missed you these last few days
that I haven't been here much.  
Hugs, my friend  
Ethel

vandana
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USA
29 posted 2003-10-04 10:44 AM


Sir,one of my fovrite write enjoyed this
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