Patricia Franz sent me this photo a few weeks ago following Hurricane Hilary near La Jolla, CA. The photo was taken by her friend Lynette Barravecchia. This photo has a definite Pacific Coast vibe about it. I live near the Gulf Coast, and the Pacific behaves very differently, much rockier with large waves are to invite surfing. I don’t think I would feel safe wading into the waves. I love to watch them, though.
A ghostly mist
Margaret Simon, draft
rises over ocean flow
bidding mystery
Where does this photo lead you? Are you drawn to the invitation to write? Leave your small poems in the comments. Encourage others with your responses.
Reflections on the Teche 
“A Hall.
Medieval.
Embarcation to
adventure
Is at
Hand.”
d r a f t 9.6.2023 JG Annino
Ooh I love that vision toward adventure.
I like the medieval vibe.
Oh, I had to go back and see the photo through new eyes. What interesting and believable thoughts you gave it, Jan!
love this vibe, Jan. one word – medieval – does it. very cool.
The photo is so mysterious and your poem echos that, Margaret.
the ghost of storms past
floats through the present
foretells the future
Rose, I love that because these old piers often still have damage from the previous storm. “floats through the present” seems what the fog is doing.
ooh…the ominous feel of your words adds a whole different element now when I look at the photo, Rose
Barnacles cling safely
to the piling below
On the pier above,
daredevils hang on
tempting the
storm
I thought about using barnacles as well. Love the daredevils.
I can imagine the daredevils tempting the storm. Nicely done!
aach! didn’t even see the barnacles till your words drew me back… clinging, hanging on… great descriptors for this image, Denise
Margaret, the “ghostly” “mystery” is a perfect fit for this spooky image.
Land’s end? What waits ahead?
We jump the fence.
We push on slowly
through the colonnade.
The Wharves Waves
Beneath the wharf, amid the waves,
No one predicts how slew behaves;
It slowly curls, abruptly swirls,
And sloughs all stuff to salty graves.
by Donna JT Smith ©2023
Donna this is a fun consideration of the wharf – having it’s way. Love the play on slew/slough
Oh Margaret, I’m sorry I missed seeing this post yesterday – one of those “no-time-to-write” days! But really enjoyed seeing where your “bidding mystery” took everyone. I’m still thinking about my own…
urchin’s cling
to mama’s sturdy legs
rising tide?
sign of hope
light breaks through
so will you
©draft, Patricia J. Franz
[…] I recently got a notice from WordPress: Happy 14th Anniversary! I have been blogging for 14 years. When I started, I had no idea what I was getting into. A writer friend was doing it, mostly to review books. So I tried it out. Found Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge and through that community found Poetry Friday. I coordinate the Spiritual Thursday group and This Photo Wants to be a Poem. […]