where we seek water
they struggle to get ashore
marginal difference
~
n.b. Both humans and seals evolved from the mammalian branch of the tree of life, but now they hold mirrored views of the beach…interesting how things turn out.
CLP 15/11/2021
Tag Archives: Beach
skirting
the wave breaks
coughs up kelp
splashes shingle up the beach
rolls stones over
brushes out sand
catches air in pockets
marks the tideline in thick foamy spume
leaves with a hiss
of bursting bubbles
slips back into itself
gathers in its pleats
to unfurl them again
backfilling our footprints
proving nothing
waits for us
~
CLP 11/10/2021
on the beach
at first sight old
older than you and me
much older
Walking hand in hand
as we might from time to time
in moments unconnected by conversation
they stopped momentarily
so she could stoop to pick up a pebble
or a shell, or a flint, or to investigate
a wave-shined glint of something
that caught her imagination
as he waited to be shown her find
at first sight old
older than you and me
but now not at all
not as old as fossilised sea urchins
not as ancient as bellemnite-bored chalk
they were just like us
two more children
playing by the sea
~
CLP 11/10/2021
Treasure
how many tides have turned
shifted and smoothed
sifted and sorted
the pebbles so
today the sea would give up this stone
so you might gift it me
precious as any stone
I have ever held
~
CLP 13/09/2021
On the Beach
slipping on pebbles
this feels like treading water
yet gentle progress
~
CLP 18/08/2021
On the Beach
I’m never tired
of each tide’s unique beauty
waking next to you
~
CLP 03/08/2021
On Water xx
sorting through shingle
picking out perfect pebbles
stones skimming off waves
.
CLP 28/04/2021
On The Beach
These amongst others
Mother of pearl and sandstone
Everything but you
~
CLP 22/03/2021
On Pleasure iii
Morning lights our shore
gulls call us to discover
gifts brought in on tide
~
n.b. photograph courtesy of ACG.
CLP 04/09/2020
Terns
Crunching east on stony beach
With the westerly
Encouraging me to move along
With uncalled for shoves to my spine
Like an impatient copper
Clearing an unruly popular terrace
Causing me to stumble
As I stagger on loose pebbles
Waves tumble in
Wash through shingle
The rage of sea repressed
By this burly bully at our backs
My lips licked by briny spray
Sunglasses spotted with tear-salt smears
Ears wind-burnt
The white noise of breaking horses
Fills the air, all but deafens
Except
Clear and shrill like blue-lighting sirens
Heading into battle
Against the insistent blows
With scratchy screeches
Wings like knives
Cutting through
Slicing and dicing
Contradicting the force
They stick to their intended course
Zigger-zagger dancing
Toward the setting sun
.
CLP 23/05/2020
Voyage des Mots 