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Open Poetry #34
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Walk With Me Below The Tide
| Open Poetry #34 |
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Walk With Me Below The Tide |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass 
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Walk With Me Below The Tide Walk with me, down where the sand’s always wet; The birds won’t mind, we’ll be another wave to them And they’ll run like water, scuttle back where we’ve passed To go pecking for bird treasures in the coves of our footprints. Walk with me, even though it’s gray and the sea wind chills, Because the tourists have gone home, the yellow gray flats Sparkle with shells like earrings matched in pairs, Some closed with little lives inside, all waiting For the turn and the prodigal tide surging home. Walk with me now; down there it’s smooth and good, Below this streak where the high tide stopped To write its name in a scribble of kelp and shells. The sand is firmer there, our steps will lengthen And the sounds of land and highways disappear. Walk with me; we’ll carry our shoes, dare waves To the ankles and wiggle our toes down into it, Laugh at our three wet cuffs that chase each other Until we can’t tell the dry one from the rest. Walk with me ‘til forever; we’ll come home with pockets Full of little clouds, of laughter and expectations, of shells And sand and touching hands in sweatshirt pouches And a kiss with wet cuffs, warm enough to turn the tide. |
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| © Copyright 2004 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
SAM When Sam goes back in memory, It is to where the sea Breaks on the shingle, emerald-green, In white foam, endlessly; He says - with small brown eye on mine- 'I used to keep awake, And lean from my window in the moon, Watching those billows break. And half a million tiny hands, And eyes, like sparks of frost, Would dance and come tumbling into the moon, On every breaker tossed. And all across from star to star, I've seen the watery sea, With not a single ship in sight, Just ocean there, and me; And heard my father snore. And once, As sure as I'm alive, Out of those wallowing, moon-flecked waves I saw a mermaid dive; Head and shoulders above the wave, Plain as I now see you, Combing her hair, now back, now front, Her two eyes peeping through; Calling me, 'Sam!' -quietlike- 'Sam!'... But me .... I never went, Making believe I kind of thought 'Twas some one else she meant.... Wonderful lovely there she sat, Singing the night away, All in the solitudinous sea Of that there lonely bay. P'raps,' and he'd smooth his hairless mouth, 'P'raps, if 'twere now, my son, Praps, if I heard a voice say, 'Sam!'... Morning would find me gone.' Walter De La Mare http://www.fullbooks.com/Peacock-Pie-A-Book-of-Rhymes.html |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
WOW! just WOW. Mxx into this night i wonder, it's morning that i dread, another day of knowing of, the path i fear to tread. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Oh...this is picture perfect, Ed... I like this scene VERY much... very much indeed... You see...I have a pair of earrings just like that...  and now I find my pockets full of sand. Thank you for this one! Karilea - if I whisper, will you listen? Keeping in mind, I must stand close...and keep my promises... |
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inkedgoddess Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392Ohio |
The birds won’t mind, we’ll be another wave to them And they’ll run like water, scuttle back where we’ve passed To go pecking for bird treasures in the coves of our footprints ******************************************* so i guess they do think we are good for something every now and then huh?  O THE treasures you'll find... yep, when those pesky tourists go home after the summer...as one who lives by the shore,i do so appreciate your tale here |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
now that's descriptive! |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
Walk with me ‘til forever; we’ll come home with pockets Full of little clouds, of laughter and expectations, of shells And sand and touching hands in sweatshirt pouches And a kiss with wet cuffs, warm enough to turn the tide. It is difficult, these days, to find a man who'll confidently think about forever, let alone, touch it... Whomever your thinking about in this one Ed...she'd be so finally clothed in love, that nothing else would matter. Excellent Music |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
What a what to start the morning! Thanks for the little walk. Sure did enjoy! Gotta brush the sand off my feet and begin the day. Have a good one, Ed miscellanea |
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pandonov Member
since 2003-10-03
Posts 478b/w conscience and insolence |
something I could never write. beautiful poem |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ed The imagery in this is breathtaking...and the scene somewhere I'd like to be right now. "To go pecking for bird treasures in the coves of our footprints." This one thing just captured me...the coves of our footprints, so original and so very charming.  I love this poem! |
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vandana
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463USA |
enjoyed |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
WOW!! I'm with Martie, the images ARE breathtaking Ed. Beautiful write you have written here sir. |
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kayjay Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015Oregon |
There are so many good lines in this heart-warming write, Ed. "Walk with me ‘til forever; we’ll come home with pockets Full of little clouds, of laughter and expectations, of shells" I tried to pick a favorite pair and finally just used a dartboard. This pair won, but any could have. Good job! Ken Through rubble and trouble and dark of night |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
thank you...the tide is so very far from me and I love it so much, it was wonderful to visit it this morning, with you, and I do feel the tide turning in the warmth of your "kiss." Whether on the shoal or on the shore, |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Beautiful work Ed. |
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Krawdad Member Elite
since 2001-01-03
Posts 2597 |
thanks for this stroll, Ed it fits nicely into an imaginary space I keep ed |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I'd read so many memorable poems before coming to PIP... but never then nor since have I known anyone whose imagery is more striking... whose words pull the reader so readily into the scene. *S* Picking a favorite part is tough when the whole is sheer perfection... but the love in your last verse leaves a warm glow regardless of the season. *S* What a beautiful write!! I haven't been to the beach in a while... thank you for sharing your walk! *S* |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Well Ed, I'll let the girls swoon. But this was a wonderful write. You romantic lug, you. Gotta say you conjered some images and memories in my mind. Thanks. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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wranx Member Elite
since 2002-06-07
Posts 3689Moved from a shack to a barn |
Oh good! A Ratwrite! Nice to see and nicer still to read |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice...James |
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