Footprints

Looking back to where I've been

I’ve sailed the world’s oceans and gazed upon faraway, liquid horizons. Soothed by gentle breezes or bruised by angry waves, I learned to love it there, upon the sea. 

Once beneath a blazing, desert sun, I saw ancient spirits dance on gaseous waves. Offering eternity, they spoke to my soul. When nightfall came, ten million twinkling stars swirled above in an ink-black sea of wonder.

Breathing air of arctic chill, I walked on pillow-soft tundra to Finger Bay, where salmon made their run. Way up in that northern clime, I found a certain beauty. Rugged, clean and cold, I might have called it home.

High above the sea and land, I’ve flown on silver wings. It’s easy to dream inside a cloud, and I longed to linger there. How easy it is, you see, to soar without a care, forgetting for a while, afflictions and despair.

Deep inside a forest, among the noble trees, I’ve sat upon a rock and pondered life’s mysteries. Of every place I’ve been, and every voice I’ve heard, and every sight I’ve seen, no other can compare to this one, most serene. Leave me long to tarry here until my final day, and then I’ll lie down ‘neath this oak and sleep my cares away.

Author's Note

Re-tracing some of my footprints.

Reviews

[Marie]

What absolutely amazing memories you have so finely detailed in this amazingly penned poem, Sam. Travel broadens our horizons and we learn so much. The visual detail is simply breathtaking in its beauty. Isn't it simply divine to find a beautiful tree to sit under and ponder the many mysteries of life and simultaneously being able to leave behind the problems of the human world for a while. A poem which gifts a beautiful aura of peace to the reader and I especially love the closing lines: "Leave me long to tarry here until my final day, and then I’ll lie down ‘neath this oak and sleep my cares away". SO beautiful! Thank you for sharing this captivating write, for sharing your treasure box of memories and for taking your reader to beautiful places through your words, Sam. Beautiful literary gem! Thank you again for sharing...

[Samuel Dickens]

Thank you. My travels are done, but the memories remain. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[Marie]

I both enjoyed it and loved it, Sam. My days of travel have come to an end also, thanks to Covid. Everything changed once it arrived, sadly. Thank you again for sharing, Sam...

[Lily Mae]

A beautiful reflection of your life. I love the way you use the elements... The last stanza is my favorite..it reminds me of a man in my life I adored..he was the best ever and he wrote just as you do..my dad...xxx

[Christy Sargent]

I was there, just now, in each of these lovely places. Dreaminging inside of a soft cloud. .. I want to go there again leaving behind my own moments of despair. Thank you for showing me these places you have been.

[Jonathan Ballam]

This feels like a modern day Wordsworth sprouting to life. I loved being absorbed in the atmosphere, and the leaves of the forest.

Great write!

[Gandré]

Exactly, prose poem. I read this and thought, I want to be there... it makes me longing for deep strong feeling when experiencing nature and history. Wonderfully painted. Did you ever read Harold Brodkey? He also creates sentences like this: long sentences and words I read - they impact.

[An owl on the moon]

There is such a stunning, rich beauty to this write. You transport us over time and space to worlds that awaken the deepest sense of life around us. This was wonderful to read!

[Vincent Esprit FMI]

I am not learned myself.....but I can tell you this poem of art trancends one into the realms of beyound.....it has a magical sense.....the choice of words...the arrangement of the words...is inviting...thank you Samuel for this piece...blessings

[Donald Meikle]

tis prose with rhyme and tickled a lot of memories. I've watched St Elmo's fire and was in Alaska on the day it became a state, (Hawaii too)

[Constance-Outspoken]

This is an excellent prose poem indeed, and I like the use of rhyme in the last paragraph.
The reader is left with a sense of natural peace and wonderment. Excellent work, Sam, as always.

[The Analog Kid]

Sam,

I have never tried a prose poem before either, but I think you nailed it. The imagery was nice as you celebrated and acknowledged that seasons bring highs and lows and tied it together with the view from above. The ending was so "serene" amongst the noble trees. Very poetic and beautiful.

Pat