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Ratleader
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Member Rara Avis
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026
Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass

0 posted 2005-05-11 11:54 AM


Message In A Bottle

I could see a yellow curl of paper
through the salt cloudy glass,
so fragile, the sun-crackled edge
ready to break at a touch.
Turning in the waves, the bottle
showed a ring of green-brown algae;
sitting here now I see it, the bare neck
held high, as if it still feared drowning.
There was something like a barnacle,
and the blackened cork. That was all.

Close enough to take without swimming,
it held off just beyond the shore break,
with something written God knows where
and cast from some other shore to me.
Was it a picnic lark or desperation
that did this? I thought I knew,
could almost feel the reach of someone
cast up on their own soul’s bare island
with no thought of rescue, yet driven
to write something, anything, and trust
luck and tide to show they’d lived at all.

It’s not so rare, that situation;
I’m doing something like it at this moment.
Suddenly it felt important;
how could I not chance the finding,
fail to capture it and miss paying
a penny of my life debt
by setting free such words?
This is how: the currents here run strong
and the rocks – even as I hesitated,
a riptide began to pull it out to sea again,
soon lost from sight in the glare, gone.





© Copyright 2005 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved
Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989

1 posted 2005-05-11 11:58 AM


Nicely done Ed, and with the tide went the knowledge of the message in the bottle.
Very well done, much enjoyed.

Ratleader
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026
Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass
2 posted 2005-05-11 12:11 PM


I have missed so many poems by not being ready when they came, or by not being brave enough to try the writing.

That's why I carry a writing pad everywhere I go now.

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

LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

3 posted 2005-05-11 12:21 PM


I used to feel the same way, but now realize, maybe all thoughts are not meant to be written down, but to be savored by the thinkee (is that a word)?  Anyway, this was brilliant...the imagry was akin to someone I've known....and the movie, your title, was a very cherished share, by him and me...once...that's what drew me in, and made me feel....this one of yours...marvelous topography sir....well done.

hugs
and thank you for the warm zemblances

Lee J.

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
4 posted 2005-05-11 12:32 PM


Ed

A memory of a bottle brought back...thank you!

I closed my eyes and listened
to the sand shifting
and the sweet chime of my bottle
where a story grew,
and the radiant colored dream
burst and fell around me
like brown wings

and for some reason I felt so sad.

  

Startime55
Member Elite
since 2003-04-05
Posts 2148
Alberta, Canada
5 posted 2005-05-11 01:07 PM


I am so glad you didn't miss out on opening the bottle of this poem...I love the feel of it and the vision it unravels...I am one who has not put pen to poem much lately and think that maybe I need to open a drifting bottle of my own...*hugs*

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
6 posted 2005-05-11 01:36 PM


could almost feel the reach of someone
cast up on their soul’s bare island
with no thought of rescue, yet driven
to write something, anything, and trust
luck and tide to show they’d lived at all.

It’s not so rare, that situation;
I’m doing something like it at this moment.

And I thank every power there may be that you do. *S* This is stunning, my friend... your images are so vivid... and it's not tide pull I feel on my heart... it's the power of your words. *S* Absolute excellence... my pen would be proud to own any line of this.

Kaos
Member
since 2001-08-02
Posts 317
between space and time
7 posted 2005-05-11 01:50 PM


Thank you, i really enjoyed reading this.  It produced such a vivid image in my mind of everything and also gave me some thoughts on things related to myself as well.

" How can i feel if i can't breathe...?"
-Godsmack
"If who i am is what i have, and what i have is lost...then who am i?"
-unknown

- I Ride The

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
8 posted 2005-05-11 02:06 PM


Excellent excellent write Ed!
So very much enjoy your words.
Hugs~Nancy

Life is one great big canvas;
throw all the paint on it you can.
                    -Danny Kaye

ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353
Michigan, USA
9 posted 2005-05-11 10:29 PM


Ed,
You had me swimming in the rip tide before the second verse...and when I saw the final gulp disappear, I felt the loss.
Wonderful write.
TD

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549
By the Seaside
10 posted 2005-05-12 02:22 AM


I thought I knew,
could almost feel the reach of someone
cast up on their own soul’s bare island
with no thought of rescue, yet driven
to write something, anything, and trust
luck and tide to show they’d lived at all.

Your writing is full of promise, and every last word
makes me believe in the reason behind them.

Love this, Ed.... just so you know~


Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
11 posted 2005-05-12 08:48 AM


I read this twice, yesterday,
and was upset because, first,
IWIHWT...

and secondly, I didn't have a
twit of an idea to write something
as nice...

until, of course, a gentle spirit
sat on my head
until I came up with something!

Thanks, Ed...

you push well, yourself...

Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989

12 posted 2005-05-12 09:00 AM


Ed, You know I love this already
so excuse me for jumping in here
but Kari?  Sat on your head???  lol...
maybe threw an idea or two at it,
but sat on it...  


I really want to care,
I want to feel something,
let me dig a little deeper
nah, still nothing~
my give a DAMN is busted. Jodee

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