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. :)

[emmajoygreen]

By the way, used to go fossil-hunting, Dorset, the county I live in is part of the Jurassic coast.. and even has its own oil field.. small but.. ..

[Sami Khalil]

Pleasurable walk by the sea, an encounter with an apparition, finding treasure to behold.
I find real treasure every time I read good poetry as this.
Captivated you hold us, mesmerized you awaken us.

[emmajoygreen]

How kind, thank you so very much much. The sea is under half an hour's drive from here. I have a foot in the countryside and a foot in the sea, Sami. Lucky me.

[Sami Khalil]

Gooood! You are lucky indeed. You are welcome Emmajoygreen

[LisaCarol]

Wow! I loved how this poem transformed me to the beach. Thank you for sharing your writing.

[emmajoygreen]

Thank you so much, always happy to walk the beach with a friend. :)

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

when i got to the end of this poem, i was sighing, sighing again. i loved loved loved it. the words paint a picture, and i found myself getting lost in this scenery. there is no symbolism or metaphor, it is simply showing. it reminds me of watching the film The Mirror by the auteur Tarkovsky. this is the type of writing i adore most. thank you so much for sharing this.

[emmajoygreen]

You always leave not only a kind review but one that tells what you find 'worthy' in my writing. An honest appraisak - whether generous or critical. is very much appreciated, sir. :)

[emmajoygreen]

I must learn to spell and edit - apologies! ( Visitors called for bread and milk - sorry the delay!)

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

if i see something i don't like, i will give constructive feedback. i don't understand people who are negative when it comes to art and poetry -- such things are a celebration of living, and so maybe critical people don't enjoy their life?

[emmajoygreen]

Lateral thinking subtly strikes again! True be in thought.. and - that can never be bought!

[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.. ;)