Watery Mistress


The sea lured my heart.
I dreamed in the salt
of its lullaby.

My eyes saw
one blue horizon
splashed in white waves.

The Ancient Mariner
was spoken by the wind
billowing my sails.

Land implored me
to leave the wooden
planks beneath my feet.

My watery mistress
was jealous of the
 white sand siren call.

She raged a bitter gale
to toss me from
her sea foam breast.

I am now buried
in sand I cannot
stand on.

And look out
upon a sea
I cannot sail.

©Susie Clevenger 2011
 Image: Mostafa Habibi
Magpie Tales Mag 95
Magpie Tales
Also shared with
Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

Comments

Irene said…
A beautiful connection with the sea. :-)
December 11, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Susannah said…
This is wonderful Susie, even more so hearing you read it!

"I dreamed in the salt of its lullaby.
My eyes saw one blue horizon splashed in white waves."

Lovely writing! :-)
December 12, 2011 at 2:44 AM
anthonynorth said…
You've covered the pic from all angles. Excellently done.
December 12, 2011 at 2:51 AM
Anonymous said…
Such a powerful lead line. Such is maintained throughout the whole poem. Well done.
December 12, 2011 at 2:54 AM
Cad said…
Ah! Another ancient mariner, I see...
December 12, 2011 at 5:28 AM
Isabel Doyle said…
Beautiful lines Susie
December 12, 2011 at 8:27 AM
Laurie Kolp said…
Lovely... I especially like 5 and 6.
December 12, 2011 at 8:40 AM
Kerry O'Connor said…
So many interesting responses to this picture, and this was is particularly evocative: you capture both the sense of yearning and indecision so very well.
December 12, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Neha said…
Hi Susie, beautiful poem and loved your audio version. :)
December 12, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Fireblossom said…
A hard lesson in frustration!
December 12, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Marian said…
aw, leave those wooden planks behind. this is lovely.
December 12, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Anonymous said…
Your poem tells a romantic if sad tale, every stanza with its own thought, its own slant. I love the first stanza especially - it is the story of my heart too...
December 12, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Martin said…
I like it. That's one powerful mistress.
December 12, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Carrie Van Horn said…
This is stunning Susie!!
December 12, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Margaret said…
Ah. The age old song of jealousy! Very well done!
December 12, 2011 at 7:23 PM
Sheila said…
wow, that watery mistress is vicious! great write, susie.
December 12, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Brian Miller said…
the salt of its lullaby...gosh, love that...and then the sadness there in the end...
December 12, 2011 at 9:25 PM
Anonymous said…
what could be sadder than looking on a sea you cannot sail?
December 12, 2011 at 10:41 PM
kaykuala said…
Great Susie! More so hearing the voice-over. It's sad when we desire but physically stopped in our tracks by circumstances!

Hank
December 13, 2011 at 5:19 AM
Berowne said…
Original, creative take on this week's prompt...
December 13, 2011 at 5:49 AM
Kay L. Davies said…
Wonderfully done, Susie. A sea-song and a dirge in one. Super!
K
December 13, 2011 at 9:44 AM
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Fantastic interpretation of the prompt! Well done!
December 13, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Tumblewords: said…
Loving the depth as well as the ebb and flow in this delightful piece.
December 13, 2011 at 4:32 PM
Ginny Brannan said…
Excellent piece, especially the bittersweet ending of the last two stanzas. Great Magpie, Susie!
December 14, 2011 at 10:38 PM
SandyCarlson said…
That's a beautiful poem!
December 16, 2011 at 8:04 PM
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