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

Comments

Irene said…
A beautiful connection with the sea. :-)
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! :-)
anthonynorth said…
You've covered the pic from all angles. Excellently done.
Anonymous said…
Such a powerful lead line. Such is maintained throughout the whole poem. Well done.
Cad said…
Ah! Another ancient mariner, I see...
Isabel Doyle said…
Beautiful lines Susie
Laurie Kolp said…
Lovely... I especially like 5 and 6.
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.
Neha said…
Hi Susie, beautiful poem and loved your audio version. :)
Fireblossom said…
A hard lesson in frustration!
Marian said…
aw, leave those wooden planks behind. this is lovely.
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...
Martin said…
I like it. That's one powerful mistress.
Carrie Van Horn said…
This is stunning Susie!!
Margaret said…
Ah. The age old song of jealousy! Very well done!
Sheila said…
wow, that watery mistress is vicious! great write, susie.
Brian Miller said…
the salt of its lullaby...gosh, love that...and then the sadness there in the end...
Anonymous said…
what could be sadder than looking on a sea you cannot sail?
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
Berowne said…
Original, creative take on this week's prompt...
Kay L. Davies said…
Wonderfully done, Susie. A sea-song and a dirge in one. Super!
K
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Fantastic interpretation of the prompt! Well done!
Tumblewords: said…
Loving the depth as well as the ebb and flow in this delightful piece.
Ginny Brannan said…
Excellent piece, especially the bittersweet ending of the last two stanzas. Great Magpie, Susie!
SandyCarlson said…
That's a beautiful poem!