HARBOUR BELL

I came out of the north-west
Staggering from the storm
The surgeons had repaired my body
And my mind hung by one hinge
So I headed for the coast of Wales
To assume the healing rhythm of the sea
And breathe the briny air
Where no-one knew me
Nor called my worn out name
Sweet freedom in isolation

And so, in smiling solitude
I walked and smoked too much
Staring at the moody ocean
As we all inevitably do
As though it holds answers
And indeed it does
The answer is "being"

One hot but breezy day
I followed the coast from north to south
Not too far but far enough
Until I came upon a harbour
Tiny and insignificant
But a harbour nonetheless
With a clutch of small boats
Bobbing and swaying lazily
On the backwater slack water tide
And somewhere close by
A nautical bell tolled the rhythm
Of an endless heedless movement
And an oddly comfortable melancholy
Rocked me in it's arms
Lost and found
Beginning and end

In as much as everything matters
Though nothing matters much
This place was nothing to me
No more than countless others
But that harbour bell
So patient and so constant
Touched something deeper than knowledge
Perhaps it was the state of my health
Or the glowing heat of the day
But some vulnerable receptor
Vibrated to that gentle toll
I've been in many places in my life
And seen wondrous famous sights
All seared into my minds eye
But their memories will last no longer
Than the haunting harbour bell

           By Phil Roberts

Reviews

[emmajoy]

'' Staring at the moody ocean - As we all inevitably do - As though it holds answers - And indeed it does - The answer is "being.. "


Only one review.. shame on readers! There's a flowing life here, a gently grabbed adventure from past into present then, in a time when memories fade into.. somewhere.

Such a retrospective and introspective piece with a calmness that almost defies the experiences it holds.

[Phil Roberts]

thank you very much. it was the first poem I had written for about 4 years and it got me started again :)

[emmajoy]

'Pleased it did the trick!

[Phil Roberts]

well, as you may gather from the poem, I had been distracted by ill-health and a couple of major operations. I think the calmness you detected came about because of the fact that I was away and alone and recovering my strength :)

[emmajoy]

There are times when being alone is a comfort. But guess one needs to know that just in case there's someone you can call on if needed. Take care of yourself.

[Érenn]

This is a wonderful piece. My mind was in many places. At first I thought it was all about recovery.Changing all about you preferring solitude. Then I thought what you yearned most for was company. But then I realize that you are actually talking about the memories of the past. A certain calmness is there to the voice. But sadness seems to be more dominant. I could be wrong. But i loved this a lot ^^

[Phil Roberts]

thank you once again! The situation was exactly as stated in the poem. It was the first poem I'd written for about 3 or 4 years and it's what got me started again.

[Daydreamer]

I thank life for all that it has given you in order to write this purely poetic piece, my words do it no justice ~ Bravo!