A Day at the Beach

An older poem of mine about transience.

The sun set, a golden ball melting

into the sea,

As I sunk into the sand that stood

between the ocean and me.

Vast, innumerable grains squished

between my toes,

And for a moment the world was still

as though in repose.

I meditated on the tide as it

ebbed and grew.

It traced and dragged the filaments of sand

like spirits do

When to Hades they flee from bodies

seeking eternal rest.

Curious, I traced my name into the sand

as a sort of test

To see how long it would remain before

it disappeared below

The torrent of waters, shattered and

dragged by the undertow.

The tide rose high around my feet

and tugged at the earth,

Like a child is coaxed to sleep. I watched

water descend in mirth

To take dominion of the sand. And,

I almost fell,

Succumbing to the ocean’s embrace,

held by the swell.

But mindful of my time, I stepped back

and watched

As into the sea, my name

was washed. 

Author's Note

Photo courtesy of me. Taken the day I conceived of this poem on the beach in Malaga, Spain, on the shore of the Mediterranean. It was such a beautiful afternoon. :)

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"as into the sea/ my name was washed"

another line i have come across that i wish i had written...

beautiful description here...and such an appreciation of the sea, the shore, the sand between the toes...

things we often just take for granted...

this is a real "stopping to smell the roses" in life.

poets often capture and appreciate the aesthetics that others gloss right over.

jacob

[Jay O Gibbs]

WOW! The last two lines was amazing. I visualize this poem into my head like I was a beach view this same moment. Well written. (Round of applauds for this one)

[Amanda Granger]

Thank you so much! :)

[Holly Mason]

I recently sold my whole life down south to relocate north...the last thing I visited south were the shores of my home thank you for memories

[Amanda Granger]

You're very welcome. :) Glad I could evoke some good memories. I'm from the south too, kind of itching to get away, but there are certainly some things I will miss.

[Wolfwind]

A beautiful poem that catches the rythem of the tides and brings the essense of times motion upon the shores of the page.
It's said that if you write a name upon the shore, the oceans will swallow it right into it's door. Away it will flow forever to remain, a memory of the world, like a gold sand grain.
The ocean has always been a magical and healing place for me, and this poem really worked to reinforce that mystic.

Awesome Ink!
Aaron

[Amanda Granger]

That was a lovely review; thank you thank you :) I feel the same way. The ocean is so full of magical energy and definitely represents a sort of renewal for me too. Beautiful words, Aaron, always an inspiration!

[emme azan]

Wonderful closing sentence. Truly inspired. I also loved the mention of Hades in conjuction with the tide's moods. V. interesting overall, will keep following your work closely!

[Amanda Granger]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked it. :)

[Jimi Brady]

I really love the underlying messages here - that all things fade in time; that our work, our art, and our lives belong to the Earth and she inevitably takes them back. I love the metaphors, too, especially the way you stand back to watch your name (self) fade away, being mindful and accepting of its inevitability - that it is natural. Beautiful work, my love - one of my favorites of yours.

[Amanda Granger]

Baby...all I have to say is THANK YOU! :D Your reviews always make me so happy. Quite insightful, couldn't have analyzed it better myself. ;P

[Amanda Granger]

The second bit of my comment cut off... I always love when you read my stuff because you have this way of cutting to the meat of whatever I'm saying and really grasp it. I can't say how much that means to me, how you get me, twin of my soul.

[sithlordjp]

The ocean calls to us... It talks to us... Your words felt like waves, always coming back, not quite the same, something new, different each time. A soothing music this is... Thanks for sharing!

[Amanda Granger]

I'm glad you noticed the slight tidal effect I was trying to pull off with the rhyme scheme in the shorter lines... it worked better in some parts than others. Thank you for the beautiful review. :)

[The Nude Writer]

I know this feeling. The way the ocean can change the earth is an amazing thing. Great poem :)

[AFord]

Beautifully written! What an amazing sunset set too

[Just me]

I love the imagery in this, that first line is gorgeous:

'The sun set, a golden ball melting
into the sea'.

Just wanted to say that I really like this.

[Amanda Granger]

Thanks so much. :) I'm glad you like it!