Church Girl

I was reading a book with vivid descriptions of the sea as an angry goddess. This is what I thought of.

Glass of dark wine

Sky of velvet burgundy

Mouth full of diamonds

Swallowing a richness of pearls

The sea is not a goddess

It is not a god

It is not a mistress or a bride

The sea is a tiger made

Of salt and shadow

A killer as casual as
A bee in the pocket of a rose

It is a fever stealing the

Breath of a sleeping child

Its edges and currents a

Clock without tick

I am a keeper of the weeds

A tangle in a net

A flash of fin and tail

There is nothing deep in me

Though I could drown you

In a teaspoon

You have your guns

I have my claws

And as you retreat from

Land growing as a speck

Ask who is safer as we

Ride the broken waves

Of the night

 

-Zoe Richardson

Author's Note

I appreciate you stopping by. Enjoy!

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

I love your words and imagery to describe the sea and how it interacts with sea monsters, like a whale who can swallow you up.... the keeper of the sea; Like the way to present the sea, many think of it as a Goddess, where as you refer to it as a "tiger"..."You have your guns, I have my claws"
so many strong words and phrases used in this piece. Great!
Best, B.

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you, Betty! Sometimes we need a different view, or a different slice of a view, to change our perspective. The sea is ever-changing, and poets must change with it! Thank you for taking time to read my work!

[light and ashes]

Damn, this is good!......

I've never read the sea described in this way, so at least to my knowledge this is highly original..
although, I don't understand the title.
It is highly misleading.

[Zoe Richardson]

I can see where you might think that. Sometimes, titles have meanings that only the poet "gets." Sometimes, the reader assigns the meaning. In this instance, the title is a contrast of innocence with the darkness and destructiveness of the personification of the sea.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"I could drown you in a teaspoon"
what a clever line...that one really drew me in...I was already wading into the sea....getting my toes and such wet.
j.

[Zoe Richardson]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Your kind words mean so much, and I appreciate you taking the time to read my work.

[PlayWrite]

this ones heavy

the occult touch works well for it

[Zoe Richardson]

There is a bit of that, isn't there? That wasn't the original intent, but the contrast of dark and light invites the comparison. Thank you for bringing a different meaning in your reading!

[Orphic dreamer]

Wow! This poem is so gorgeous! From all the lucid personification of the mystical sea, and the ineffable details instilled in each line. Absolutely wonderful!

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed it.

[Einstein Noodle]

Emma Joy told me I should come and read your poem ... so here I am ;)) I love the title .. it has all kinds of allure .. I was surprised by the theme .. the contrast made between it and your title make you intent very crisp .. the sea is a deadly thing ... that and so many other things of nature we romanticize .. just stepping past our threshold each day is risky business when one thinks a bit on it. I love the imagery .. the free form like the waves and currents ... unrestrained .. these lines:
"You have your guns
I have my claws" gave me pause .. most definitely a social statement but I'm left to make what I will of it. An ex-Navy man I think of our "big guns" .. ships that are floating cities .. that do turn to specks in the vastness of our oceans ... tho the ocean surely wins the whose safer query .. I can not help but think of the harm we do her ... I am thanking Em for sending me the request to read your poem "Church Girl" ... love that title even more! ;) nice work .. thanks for sharing
E.

[Zoe Richardson]

Since you (more or less) asked, I will spill some secrets. I am the Church girl, someone living a quiet life of faith and family, who encountered a man as destructive as the sea. He was a tiger of salt and shadow, you never knew what to expect. His guns were not literal guns, but angry words and my claws were my written ones. He underestimated me. But you brought your own meaning to it and that is the important part!

[Einstein Noodle]

it's an abstract poem .. if you wanted to speak more clearly you would have ;) i feel blessed you shared this important part of your life. T
"Church Girl" is loaded with personal power .. something those who suffered abuse have great need to tap into. I admire your courage and spirit more than the poem ;) but I love the poem. be well .. stay safe! see you 'round the Cafe' eh!?

[Coyote Poetry]

I loved the poetry dear Zoe.
"I am a keeper of the weeds
A tangle in a net
A flash of fin and tail
There is nothing deep in me
Though I could drown you
In a teaspoon"
I adored the above lines. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you, Coyote! I always enjoy and appreciate when a fellow writer takes time from their writing to read my work. I am glad you liked it!

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoy your work and you re welcome dear Zoe.

[emmajoy]

This really is a feast of phrases, so many visual titbits laid - both exciting and silky set: '.. A killer as casual as - A bee in the pocket of a rose.. ' - '.. A tangle in a net - A flash of fin and tail.. ' - '..And as you retreat from - Land growing as a speck - Ask who is safer as we - Ride the broken waves - Of the night '

You really do observe and feel your corner of the world.

[Zoe Richardson]

You are so kind! Thank you for reading. I am glad you liked it!