I am participating in the 2013 summer Poem Swap that Tabatha Yeatts is organizing. What fun it is to receive a poem in the real snail mail! This week Tabatha sent out a picture prompt suggesting an ekphrastic poem. Some poet will receive this poem this week.
The photo that prompted this poem is Noise of the Waves by Phillip Schumacher.
Ocean Call
If you feel small,
sit on the grass-lined dune
near the sea,cross your legs,
cup your ear,
listen.The wind will call to you
on wisps of white clouds,
over the roar of wavesdrowning
your simple thoughts,
inviting you to be one
with the sculptor of things.–Margaret Simon
For more Poetry Friday, go to Amy’s site Poem Farm.
This is beautiful, Margaret. I love the image the lines evoke: “The wind will call to you…inviting you to be one/with the sculptor of things.” Now I want to go to the beach today!
Advice for what to do when one feels small is important advice. Thank you, Margaret. That “sculptor of things” calls to me as well. Just lovely. (I am so happy you like your book!) Happy PF!
Thanks. Your feedback is so helpful. These are both lines that I edited and like much better than the original. My theme became clearer. Thanks for hosting today. It’s a big and rewarding undertaking.
I second that — Beautiful, Margaret! And I also especially love the ending.
This is great, Margaret! I like all the W sounds in that third verse.
I didn’t use Tabatha’s photo prompt, as you may have guessed if your swap poem has arrived!
Yes, Diane, your poem arrived while I was away. Fun to come home to a special poem just for me. What a treat! Thanks!
Oh, I love ocean poems! Yours is lovely, Margaret. Thank you for sharing. xo
I’m going to the ocean at the end of July-so exciting, & your poem made me even more so. Verse 3, ‘the wind will call to you’-I love that feeling at the edge of the water! Thanks for sharing!
Have a great trip! Listen!
Love the image and the poem Margaret! Both are stunning.
To answer your question from Teaching Young Writers Chalk-a-bration:
Yes, please share…and if you still want to include the pics,sometimes a few effects can make the colors pop more. But if you just want to share the poems and the experience your students had that is great too! Hope to see you there.
Lovely! Perfect last line!
Yes – the last line IS perfect. Thanks for sharing, and happy swapping to all… I miss doing it this time, but life is a little nuts this summer with a high school to college transition and job transition etc. etc. – didn’t want to bite off more than I could chew. But I so love reading these poems! :0)
I am anxiously awaiting the delivery of my mail sometime late tomorrow or early Tuesday! And somebody is going to get a very fun poem of advice from me next week. I think I’ll try another collage, just for the fun of it!
Love this, and especially that “sculpter of things.” ALL things, eh?
Ack! *sculptor*
You’ve really picked up on the spiritual component of the natural world. Love this poem!