Thursday, June 20, 2019

October Beach

I first wrote this poem in 2009(Please click year), , fiddled with it for 3 years, reduced it, then rebuilt and added into it 7 years later. 

Ten years.

I hope I get some comment this time --if only because I did something different: I made it longer instead of my usual practice of reducing poems, sometimes until they vanish. The old doodle:

Ocean is always in us
Where gravity dreams,
Forces swirl seams,
Marmoreal, like love --a 
Temporal spectrum 
Pitched into light and
All life above, below
We know a single moment,
A chime unfurled in time.
Its waves curl, rise, fall,
Fold and spread beyond us all,
Leaving salted air --and
What is too far, too old
To see, can at least
Be heard there.

26 comments:

  1. I believe that we are all drawn to the water. There must e a reason.

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    1. Dear Emma, Not only is blood mostly water, but the watery portion of blood, the plasma, has a concentration of salt and other ions that is remarkably similar to sea water. Coincidence or design? Doesn't matter, it's hope and life.

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  2. Geo:

    Very beautiful! Obviously the words themselves, but the cadence as well! To me, I hear it read in a rich, deep baritone voice with pronounced timbre and diction.

    PipeTobacco

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    1. Prof., I wish Dylan Thomas was still around to recite poems. He had that voice.

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  3. Lovely art work and lovely poem, friend Geo. I know what you mean regarding rebuilding your poems. I do the same with mine.
    Most times I am agonizing over them to no end. But once it's done, it's done. After it's perfected, I couldn't care less. That's why I kill them each December 31st and start new. I do not keep copies of my past poems and nothing is copy righted. I encourage peeps to take what they like. And I like it that way. Anyway, love, cat.

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    1. Dear Cat, When I edited "Poetry Humor Magazine" back in the 1970s, I copyrighted every issue (which was the protective law) but remitted it to every contributor. Now I just post my own work --poems have lives of their own. Over 60 years I have earned ten dollars for my poems. That's more than enough. Love reciprocated.

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  4. Those of us who live near a seaside know well how the power and the grace of the ocean affects our souls. Your poem says this well, Geo. It is beautiful.

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    1. Beautiful Arleen. My family has also been drawn to large bodies of water, into awe of such power and grace. Thank you, dear soul.

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  5. Your poetry leaves me without words Geo...but it is so beautiful and sings to to the heart.

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    1. Oh Delores, if only I had ten years to frame other things I say... But I'm glad you like my poem. And for listening with your heart, thank you.

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  6. The ocean surely does sound primordial - great observation, Geo. I am impressed with your "doodle" which looks less like a doodle and more like fine art to me.

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    1. Kind Jenny, In my 20s, I worked in a shop in an alley at picture framing and fine arts restoration. If you knew how many oil-paintings and lithographs of "lightfilled waves" I repaired and in-painted back then, you'd see how I learned the basics from better artists. The '09 doodle over this text was done while renting a weekend house over Duncan's Landing. Lately, I've wanted to go back there.

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  7. I really like this, Geo - and the last three lines are especially perfect. You always embrace a lot in few (but potent) words.

    I'm never satisfied with my poetry, but - instead of adding or subtracting the length - I always seem to be changing the words.

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    1. Dear Jon, change the words,change the length and structure and get used to the tyranny of poetics --but you know that. The darn things have lives of their own and can be quite demanding.

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  8. Note to Baili, thanks for time-traveling back to Wednesday, October 17, 2012 to leave a lovely comment on "October". The earlier version of this poem is much cheered by it!

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  9. Like ocean waves, your words are magical.
    Good to read your poetry again, Geo.
    Be well, friend.

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    1. Dear Friend Robyn, I know I've been remiss in posting poems lately and sure appreciate your comment on this one . I've just written a new poem about stuff Norma is finding in archives I've never seen. It's at "Gardening With Geo." (hot picture!): http://lepslog.blogspot.com/

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  10. Thanks for visiting, Azka. Good luck raising the quality of insurance products in Indonesia.

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  11. Oh what can I say about this fantastic poem?
    It is profound...it is beyond mere beauty...it truly speaks to the Soul.
    There is genuine magic here...in the swirling of the water...in the spiralling of our thoughts...in that sacred space where everything in existence meets...and becomes one.
    Here, is true genius...😊😊

    I do so hope you are well, my Friend.

    I think of you often...

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    1. Thanks dear Cat for that most complimentary comment. You have brightened my day!

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  12. awesome article.
    thank for sharing & have a nice day

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    1. Again Azka, thanks. I visited your #2 site,"Otomotif", which is well-organized but the cars look upset.

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  13. Brilliantly written!

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    1. Lon Anderson, so good to hear from you again! Thanks for the encouragement (I need encouragement a lot right now)and please accept my good wishes.

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  14. i am taking this poem as a half-birthday present this post and my bday is in October so there you go love it geo

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    1. Thank you, Annie B., tomorrow begins your birthday month. I wish you happiness and health, this and all months.

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Please, say hello! I welcome your comments, thoughts, even criticisms!