The Past of Me.

for RAVIN' INK, Vol's group. Prompt for 26 October + An insignificant item EJG - England, UK

Wandering on the shore, stopping occasionally

to watch the sun paint waves a masterpiece of

silver re-creation. Why not orange-red, mutters

she - whispering to a patch of air supporting

an apparent starve of herring gulls, darting, 

delving into anywhere and everywhere -

uninvited.

Meanwhile Lady was running, stopping,

sniff-sniffing, stooping as if a hopeful 

Olympian doing floor exercises, tail flying 

as a stream of competitive ribbon. Busy 

watching her, gulls silent, was surprised 

to see a figure standing, smiling at me, was safe

I new it plus not one bark or snarl from Lady

The words were simple, ''Good morning, Emma.

Suddenly but slowly, laughing,  it stepped into 

an increasingly thirsty mist 

Lady trembled, put damp nose out of joint by

pointing it towards a scatter of stones on which

appeared to be a small and lidded tin box. 

She sniff-sniffed then paw-cuffed. It rattled! 

Of course. Had to be opened. Lady at attention,

salivating. I prised it open - ouching my finger tips.

Hungry for its scent, she stood against my hip.

Success! 

 

 

From the tin bounced a gloss of faint coloured stone.

It's centre neatly holed. Was as if time had stolen 

its  heart, followed by a buffering by other stones

and the power of ravaging tides. I turned t'wards

the absence of the man. How had he known the 

stone was my Me,  fossilised, hardened. Now safe.

Held in the warmth of my palm. 

Sometime the stone goes missing. No matter, 

Now then - where first?  Think time to try my

recently tidied wardrobe. Under my red sweater?

Tucked between thick socks and thermals?

NO! Is definitely somewhere - I think.

Tired, aching from  bending down, reaching up.

Time to sit a while. Sighing, sighing again. 

I close my  eyes, open them, blink - blink again,

look down at my feet where - grains of sand glisten

Reviews

[redzone]

what a wonderful gift the sea has offered you Emmajoy, a Hag Stone!! For many, it holds magic and the ability to mind-walk to any place or time. It's a magical gift and one that even when kept in a tin, disappears, only to be found again.

Your poem is also a magical experience as the words arrange themselves into a visual walk on the beach with Lady. And magically, we the reader, walk with you into that mist!! I could feel the salty sea air and the sand beneath my feet!! Thank you!!
Curt

[emmajoygreen]

Love the sea, love those hag stones! Also love your kind words, sir. You seem to have felt how I feel each and every time I visit somewhere about that area. Live in the Green but have the Blue not far away: the best of two worlds. :)

[The Refined Poet]

Love the images that this poem elicits.

[emmajoygreen]

What an elegant and generous review, thank you so very much, sir. :)

[Samuel Dickens]

I'm getting educated this morning. Having never heard of a hag stone, I looked it up and now know. (I wish I could find one!) I can equate your lovely tale to my own finding of an arrowhead and misplacing it. Yes, it's definitely somewhere! Also, your use of the word "prised" made me smile and remember my father, as he used that word, too. I think it has now disappeared from the American vocabulary, replaced by "pry" and it's various tenses. Your words are a charm.

[emmajoygreen]

An arrowhead! Go as near as you can to the area where you found your arrowhead.. if you can.. and keep looking whenever possible - could be luck.
I lived in area known for its fossils, so been searching since able to gaze and gaze into whatever soil, pebbles, when the tide goes out. Brilliant and exciting especially when you can waste a day doing just that!!! If time read up on Jurassic coastline, Dorset, UK :)

Fancy losing a word, let's collab on a poem or short story, 'How a word was brought to life?!

[Samuel Dickens]

That's an idea. Wouldn't be the first time a toad and a princess teamed up.

[emmajoygreen]

We will think on that.. still laughin g at your words, need stop! We'll think and do as of next week, yes? If you're serious and have time.

[tumi]

The image of the seaaaa, ha such a strong imagery in your poem
alliterations, onomatopoeia, and a vivid narration, very good

[emmajoygreen]

Many thanks for your visit, time and very kind words, tumi. Will reciprocate as soon as possible

[Dave W.]

You really have a knack for teleporting the read into whatever story it is you write. thank you for sharing this.

[emmajoygreen]

My pleasure. Thank YOU very much for reviewing yet another of my posts, how kind. :)

[Tom]

Ah, the magic and mystery of the seaside used so eloquently to reveal a real gem of a gift but was that ghostly apparition who revealed its whereabouts? Maybe a lover no longer around who still holds a special position in the lady's heart, perhaps he was lsot at sea thoogh whoever or whatever, defo a supernatural, sentinel being who looks out and over the lady in question, I suspect in due time she will return again to the very same place!

Ps Loved ' A starve of herring gulls '

[emmajoygreen]

Thank you so very much, Tom, and your review is as near as true as could be. There are places or a special place where memories show the way to.. somewhere, someone and not to be forgotten.
'The starve of herring gulls' wrote itself.. Tom - it just tickled my fingers!

[Vol]

EmmaJoy,

A faded bit of stone with its heart neatly holed...

What a nice exploration of a certain human duality.

“It's centre neatly holed. Was as if time had stolen 
its  heart, followed by a buffering by other stones
and the power of ravaging tides.”

Tides, the incredible sensory overload of life today…
How tiresome for our spirits/souls to function in a physical world when freedom from the “Slings and arrows” should be the norm…
But not just our spirits, our bodies, too...

“I think. Tired,
aching from  bending down, reaching upwards - 
time to sit down a while. Sighing, I close my
eyes, open them, blink - blink again, look down at
my feet where - grains of sand glisten,”

(the last line finds beauty, even in defeat)

All of our non-physical being, our consciousness, thoughts, soaring joy, righteousness, happiness, trapped and abused within the confines of these our “flesh prisons.”
Yet our humanity carries on, waiting for the next glimpse into peace, quiet, beauty, and full realization of self.

[emmajoygreen]

We have to find, we need to find those glimpses into peace.. else, peace dies an un-noble death. Thank you, dear frue friend, you have written such kindly analytical words that help me to think outside my intention but enhance what I have! Think that's what I mean.. ;)

[Jeyanthi]

Does the hardened stone missed or misplaced? 😅.. or turns into glistening sand... I really like your past more now ahhh 😅 ( fossilised hardened)...
Your doggy is all along with you dear...
Yours words sending me to beach... sending 💕💕...
I can simply imagine a girl searching the past under her sleeve or in recently tided wardrobe rather than in her head.. 😅

[emmajoygreen]

Jeyanthi, you have a wonderful way of reading things and interpreting them so very cleverly. Also, many thanks for reading so many words, how kind you are.

[Jeyanthi]

I possibly try to be most kindest 😅..
I like your poems or letting us wander in our own imagination... or I can say " sending back to convent school with no fees"... whatever I like to read your poem... 🙂

[Jeyanthi]

Thanks yaar... great to know... 😊

[emmajoygreen]

If everyone could and did say that, our world just might be perfect. Thank you again for your kindness

[Lorry]

Ahh, does your end-line signify that you were transported back to the beach? Isn't it nice that we get this toy to play with in our head called Madge Ination that can beat the pants off any new fangled whatchamacallits hands down.
Did you ever find the tin again with its contents outwith Made-Ination's land?
But then again, with your images you portray with words, maybe just remembering is good enough.
Like where this took you, down a winding path, but luckily no rabbit holes Alice...I mean Emma!
😃

[emmajoygreen]

Laughed, as you knew I would: your Madge-Ination is truly up the pole and round.the.equator.fan-
read moreLaughed, as you knew I would: your Madge-Ination is truly up the pole and round.the.equator.fan-
tastic. Think the above could be about or for two reasons. Will award a prize to whoever deserves it!!! MANY thank yous for your words, as ever always!