smooth stones

"jumping" by belen sambucety

back then

i had not figured out

the plot of my life 

was not mine to write

each morning

the seaweed strangled the shoreline

but you pointed out the smoothest stones

nestled between the ugliness

and those shells

i almost believed i could hear someone 

whispering the secrets of life to me

when i held one up to my ear

you taught me to listen to life

even when it was silent

we stacked moments on top of sand castles

only to watch them be washed away

at high tide

life had its way with me

over and over again

but those lessons got me through

today at dawn i greeted the shoreline

remembering...missing you

still searching for smooth stones

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I really like this one. But I'm reminded that stones only become smooth from constant wear; their jagged edges taken from them by tumbling over and over, scratching and scraping until all the corners are rounded smooth. I learned this from the mountain streams; searching for garnets and agates in the river beds. I sometimes wonder if stones look at the sand and see their end. Or perhaps they see purpose reborn in rounding others smooth as their own history. Thank you for the beautiful poetry. F.

[Lydia Shutter]

Perhaps the stones do! Your review is so lovely, Fabian. Thank you.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

It was my pleasure. Your writing is wonderful.

[Richard M]

Another of your beautiful writes Lydia, and has me thinking of my own seaside memories. I love the line, 'the seaweed strangled the shoreline.' So descriptive. And the lines, '...... someone whispering the secrets of life to me'..... taught me to listen to life even when it was silent' are beautiful, are eerily hold many adventures. Well written and just love it! It's now in my library.
Take care my friend
Richard

[Lydia Shutter]

Richard, you are so kind. Thank you very much. The beach is my happy place! Lydi**

[Gee]

It is such a shame that adulthood chases away the innocence of childhood, youth,. Oh not to have to be seen as serious :))
This is so lovely

[Lydia Shutter]

It's true. As we get older and have more responsibilities, it is difficult to be wide eyed and innocent. Thanks for the review, Gee. Lydi**

[K writes]

I just love listening to life move through, this is wonderful

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you, Kaykey! Lydi**

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too dear Lydia.
"today at dawn i greeted the shoreline
remembering...missing you
still searching for smooth stones"
I loved the above lines. I still walk the beaches and I collect rocks for my rock garden. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you, John. I always appreciate your reviews. Lydi**

[Coyote Poetry]

I love your work dear Lydia and you are welcome my friend.

[Einstein Noodle]

Oh my! so gently wistful ... haunting with a lavender scent and cloud caresses .. just beautiful, Lydi! made me think of me Ma ... and Pa; but mostly Ma and how gently she taught me to live .. thanks for sharing my friend. Simply gorgeous!
E.

[Lydia Shutter]

Thanks so much, E. Wistful...indeed, that was the tone of my poem. Lydi**

[Paul Bell]

I suppose in prospective, life really is simple. That single moment in time when you found out the smoothest stones nestled in between the ugliness. The secret was out there, just waiting to be found.
Time moves on, and the story gets told again, and the secret stays secret. The visit to the shoreline brings back life, and that sure is the greatest feeling ever.

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you for the review and for understanding, Paul. Lydi**

[Miss Sharon]

(today at dawn i greeted the shoreline remembering...missing you still searching for smooth stones) So beautifully written my friend. Though I no longer live near the ocean, I too still search for "smooth stones." ~Sharon

[emmajoy]

You write and feel so beautifully here, Lydi. When adults are 'ticked off' for being childish - for many being told that must be a thrill! Being a child, adventuring the beach, the hill, the stars and dawn is what inspires word-makers to see light and dark for what they are, penetrable magic lands. Just as a shell, pebble or grain of sand is precious. Thank you for taking me out of darkness, dear you.. and more. x

[Lydia Shutter]

Your review is downright magical, Emma. Thank you so much Lydi**

[redzone]

it's true life will always teach us how to live if we listen.... life confronts us and we in turn respond and change our lives, and life around us over and over again, until we are no more.... those moments where sand castles are built are all memories, the smooth stones the ocean carries away then returns for us to make new sand castles and memories....

in reading your poem Lydi, I have found a very smooth stone, one that reminds me of how much fun it is to walk the shore line, play tag with the waves, dipping my toes in the ocean's life force as it shares it's wisdom with me in sea shells that whisper the answers to all the whys we have ever asked.... it is then we can say we have lived while holding dearly to those we miss.....

each word you have crafted here Lydi is a very "nice" smooth stone....

[Lydia Shutter]

The beach is a very special place for me....and walking there early in the morning brings me peace. Thanks for your very "nice" review, Curt. Lydi**