The Delta Joins the Sea

©Tracey Grumbach

I dream of the delta
that travels down
the Mississippi
to join with the sea.

Muddy water and salt
sing the blues
in splashing notes
along the shore.

In this tabernacle
of the sun I lift
up a prayer for
those whose tears
float among sea shells.

I write an amen
 in the sand
and lift my eyes
to the setting sun
saying goodbye
to the delta
as it is carried
away by the sea.

©Susie Clevenger 2012
 dVerse Poetics with Brian Miller
Photographic inspiration ~ Tracey Grumbach nineacresdesigns

Comments

Brian Miller said…
love it susie...this really kicks into another level in the third stanza for me...the tabernacle of the sun...and tears among the sea shells...the amen in the sand...love all those touches...

i once found a bunch of seashells with prayers written on them in sharpie pen...brought that back...
April 7, 2012 at 3:26 PM
Tashtoo said…
Susie! This simply sings to me! Wonderful play with the prompt...even the word "delta" ooozes poetry...you've penned a fantastic piece!
April 7, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Claudia said…
the blues...the sea...and tears among sea shells...love how this all flows together susie.and then the amen in the sand, carried away..and the circle closes again..good stuff
April 7, 2012 at 3:46 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
Thank you Brian...the sea always fascinates and inspires me.
April 7, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
Thank you Natasha...I am a fan of the blues so the delta often inspires
April 7, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
Thanks Claudia...so much pain and joy comes down the Mississippi to be carried away in the sea.
April 7, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Laurie Kolp said…
Susie- This is one of my favorites of yours. It reminds me of the time not too long after my friend committed suicide that I found dozens of whole sand dollars on the beach... made a cross out of them, in fact.
April 7, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
Thanks Laurie...I love the sea, but always I feel a bit of sadness when I am at the beach
April 7, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Scarlet said…
Very meaningful lines...I write an amen in the sand and saying goodbye carried by the sea ~
April 7, 2012 at 4:31 PM
Ed Pilolla said…
my imagination floats away with this one.
April 7, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Daydreamertoo said…
Having seen a few Bayou's down on the Mississippi now and, the Gulf of Mexico I have to say, I love this.
April 7, 2012 at 4:51 PM
hedgewitch said…
Things get carried away, and some things seem to build up--but the river flows on into the sea. My favorite line in this is "..a prayer for/those whose tears/float among sea shells.." Beautiful image, Susie.
April 7, 2012 at 4:51 PM
Beachanny said…
Something so timeless, so quintessentially American in the flow of the muddy Mississippi down through the delta (the birth of American music) and into the gulf where one finds continual discovery and rebirth in food, culture, merging together with music, art, and hopefully one day letting the tides wash away prejudice and leave us in a valley of love.
April 7, 2012 at 5:17 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
Thanks Ed..amazing what a photo can speak to the one viewing it
April 7, 2012 at 5:28 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
Thank you Daydreamer...I love the south
April 7, 2012 at 5:29 PM
Cynthia said…
So good to read your poem full of
lovingkindness and honor.
April 7, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Anonymous said…
i like "tabernacle of the sun"
April 7, 2012 at 6:33 PM
Henry Clemmons said…
Wowser, I could hear the blues vanish/fade into the sea. The greatness of generations lost in a terrible flood of tragedy. Excellent!!!!!!!1
April 7, 2012 at 6:37 PM
Susie Swanson said…
Amen to this, you are so talented. I love your poetry,Happy Easter.
April 7, 2012 at 8:28 PM
Anonymous said…
Your diction, subject, and photo meld into a gestalt that, as Natasha said, 'oozes poetry'.
April 7, 2012 at 10:12 PM
kaykuala said…
So much would have gone along the winding river in human emotions. At the delta it slowed to give love a chance but not to be. All were brought to sea! Great write Susie!

Hank
April 8, 2012 at 1:38 AM
ayala said…
Beautiful, Susie. Happy Easter!
April 8, 2012 at 8:23 AM
Driftwood and Pumpkin said…
I actually got chills reading this. I loved the imagery and my favorite line was "Muddy water and salt sing the blues in splashing notes along the shore."

Beautiful.

Thank you for using my image for inspiration. It was a joy reading and visiting!
April 8, 2012 at 9:36 AM
Maude Lynn said…
I love this! "Tabernacle of the sun" is such an exquisite image. Just beautiful all the way through.
April 8, 2012 at 9:59 AM
Semaphore said…
I particularly love the phrase "tabernacle of the sun", although much of your poem sings in as fluent a voice.
April 8, 2012 at 12:41 PM
stu mcp (hate&hope) said…
Some great language here! Makes me want to visit the mississippi one day. You steeped this poem in memory and history- was just lovely to read and built such great images-
April 8, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Tarang Sinha said…
Beautiful composition!:)
April 9, 2012 at 12:24 AM
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