In this sapphire blue ocean
day swim turns
determined
striking out
barrier island
disappearing behind
Distant sandbar
rising up
as if Poseidon positioned it
right there
sprung forth
from the earth’s mouth
white sand
beckoning, seducing
Alone, I muster the muscles
arms, legs
against the rhythmic ebb and flow
of stout tide
outpacing
vile water demons
This small space between
sea level and storms
senses the sand dunes
wafting farewell
I leave shallow water
feeling the ice cold
of the silky blue sea
the voluptuous deep
a small strip
of treacherous uncertainty
I imagine not
the chilled vastness
or the sharp rub
of predator’s skin
and instead dream of
romantic Spanish shipwrecks
the sorrow of lost treasure
treading pain
submersed in salty sea
The brief distance
diminishes now
as I climb upon
the sandy shoal
and contemplate the art
of returning.
Beautiful poem… wonderful imagery, Lana. Lovely!
Thanks so much, Iris! 😀
My pleasure always, Lana. 🙂
Wonderful, Lana. It’s starting to get cold here and I was transported to warmer climes. I love the last lines. <3
Thanks so much, Diana. This one is fresh off the rejection stack. Ah well…. I thought it would be good for an end of summer salute. We are still almost reaching 100 degrees here. 😀
It was a wonderful end of summer salute. That’s hot. We’ve had a couple fires in the woodstove, but should get another good week or two before the rains come.
The last thought, as superbly put as it is, worried me – it’s always the swim back that’s daunting…….
I agree, it surely is!
Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
Thanks John! Hope you are having a lovely weekend!
You are very graciously welcome. I did some sightseeing in Richmond today.
These short lines replicate the movement of the water
They do indeed, Derrick. Thank you so much for reading, hope you are having a lovely weekend!
Stunning imagery and emotion.
Thank you so much, David. This one was rejected for publication, sigh, so I do appreciate the wonderful compliment. Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Thanks for reading.
That’s a shame, I loved it. Maybe try some other publications?
Maybe, we will see. Thank you so much. 😀
You write well about the sea even from way up there in North Texas!
I have done some time on South Padre Island and also Florida. I used to swim to those outermost sandbars, but since I started watching Sharkweek, well, not so much anymore! 😀
I lived in Florida in the early 90’s, near a bay with a sandbar. People often walked to it in waist-deep water at low tide, forgetting that it would be submerged at high tide. These lines were my favorite, because you choose to focus not on cold or danger, but on the romantic and mysterious: “I imagine not / the chilled vastness / or the sharp rub / of predator’s skin / and instead dream of / romantic Spanish shipwrecks / the sorrow of lost treasure.” Enjoy the sandbar, Lana, but be mindful of the tide and don’t stay out there too long. 🙂
You are right Joan, the tide always changes. I won’t stay long. 😀
Love you poem, Lana and I feel as if it’s me striking out in the water, revelling in the isolated freedom, startled by the sudden cold of the deeper ocean…then looking back to land. 😀❤️
Thank you Annika, that is exactly what I was trying to express 😀
A beautiful little journey to the sea Lana. A farewell to summer. 🙂 x
There’s always a bit of sadness for me in letting summer go….but I’ll rebound, lol! Thank you, Debby!
Thank YOU Lana. 🙂 x
As always I love the images your words make pop up into my head, Lana! And a mentioning of a greek deity always steals my heart… 😉 xoxo
Thank you, Sarah. Those greek deities for sure 😀