At the Shore

an old bachelor sometimes remembers

Vast, foam in movement

Ignored aches almost forgot

the memory touch of fingers

two mouths in a smile.

Seeing across to where

the horizon beckons

moving away from memory

still, they stubbornly exist.

Time fades the edges

til they no longer cut

Distance can almost

let me ignore what might.

Older hearts have it easier

And yet, they still remember.

But what was need

is now just soft regret.

Do oceans get lonely?

Reviews

[Margie F]

Mark, I felt this one.

"Older hearts have it easier
And yet, they still remember.
But what was need
is now just soft regret."

I am curious how "older hearts have it easier."
As I've gotten older, my memories tend to sting a bit more, but maybe that is the soft (or not so soft) regret you point out. It sounds like I may need a trip to the coast to ponder this one a bit more. I hope your day is brighter with hopes of new memories free from regret.

[Mark]

The older I get the more higher level my perspective gets. Things that mattered greatly 20 years ago have lost the sense of importance I once gave them. For instance, my entire life my priority was to be a husband and father. I was both, but my wife was not the love of my life. Now, I can't imagine giving up my life as a bachelor for any woman. My perspective has changed.

[Margie F]

Ahh, truth! Beginning as children we are encouraged to chase the dream of family, and perhaps very important to the continuance of mankind that we do. I can't tell if we grow and know we are individuals and begin to need that independent experience, or if is a natural progression that some pursue while others ignore in an attempt to keep up appearances of a "strong relationship." Maybe we aren't intended to remain a single unit (2 people living as 1) for life. Lots of maybes to consider. I live free. I have to. It isn't always easy either, but I can breathe easier. Thank you for your reply.

[Einstein Noodle]

i especially like the closing .... we go through a lot of hard times (most anyway) and they do soften (it takes time to heal) we can remember them with gentle acceptance as having taught us and molded us far more than those happy days ... i read your about me .. quite the interesting path you have wandered .. peace and joy
E.

[Arundass TP]

Nicely written poem. Enjoyed well

[Lisasview]

First read of yours and I did find it interesting.
As we get older our perspectives change and what seemed so very important in our 20's. 30's.... and even 6's is not longer important. what is truly important, at least in my view is to make the right choices..
Life slips by and you will never be as young as you are at this moment...
I enjoyed the read because I connected to it.
Lisasview, now in Spain

[Mark]

Thank you Lisa. I think we make choices and decide later which ones we're right. I think what is important is to live our lives as we mean them to be lived.

[Wolfie]

I really liked this poem Mark. Alot of those feelings I can relate too. Thank you for writing.

[Coyote Poetry]

We cannot stop time. But Mark, we can still have some fun.
"Time fades the edges
til they no longer cut
Distance can almost
let me ignore what might."
I did like the above lines. You left the reader with things to ponder. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Mark]

Life is fun, regret, laughter, tears. Life is full. Thank you for reading my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Mark and you are welcome.

[Unspoken poet]

Wow, love that last line, makes one ponder.
so nicely written.

[Mark]

Thank you for your lovely review.

[Unspoken poet]

not a problem

[S.zaynab.kamoonpury]

A fine muse that conveys the muse with oceanic terms and phrasings. Kudos for this fab poem!!

Plz do read and comment my newest poem too

[Ruth]

That finale, what a belter Mark! :) A wonderfully visual piece...left me pondering on time and how one adapts to life's cycles...stunning write :)

[Mark]

Thank you for your observation. ;) Emotions and words come together in some of us. Sometimes it's easy other times not so much!

[Mark]

Thank you Emma :) Nice of you to come and read.