No Ticking but the Tide
Come cold October
there’s a wintry feel to the coast.
Where the wind howls hollow through,
slicing pale grasses; and the incessant sea
keeps coming in the repeated strokes of a comb
on a bald head: habitual and pointless.
Gulls echo and bob above the sea, kite-like.
The sand, interred with each succeeding wave,
one wave, rolling in forever and again,
passes the time ticking off endlessness
and in its’ emptiness there is no measuring out of clocks.
No ticking but the tide.
An unpeopled beach is ageless, so I’m told,
and this imaginary headland is beyond time,
but perfect in unsullied nature.
The only time I see this scene
is with eyes shut,
remembering the tide is a Mexican wave
and never moves forward,
only jumping up and down for effect.
hey man…will stop back in …my bandwidth wont let me get all the way through but only the first 18 seconds…i really like your reading voice though, so will def be back tonight…
Thanks Brian for the comment on the reading, it’s given me a wee bit more confidence, as I’m not too sure how the accent carries at times!
So many ways of depicting that endless rolling of the waves on the shore. You made me close my eyes, too – to see the shores of my own past. Loved the final image – the Mexican Wave, jumping up and down only for effect! Perfect.
In the original write I had the waves jumping up and down like a pensioner in a wheelchair… Thanks for your kind words Andrew.
I really like that image, too – although those waves probabaly can’t jump as high!
Oh man- this is so good. Why does the sea hold such fascination for us….I could sit and stare at it for hours …. I absolutely love the reading….just bought another dimension and you do it so naturally- first class…I tried my first reading tonight- felt awkward…you nailed it! That last stanza is so symbolic- holds such weight….great close to a great poem
Thanks for what you say about the reading and the poem Stu, the staring and the listening to the sea usually takes up a huge chunk of any holiday time me and Susie have.
I absolutely loved this…got caught up in the imagery…leaving me wanting to be there right now..thank you
In Tunisia , earlier this month, and a hotel balcony right on the Med, it was soooo fine to look out to the black horizon with little lights flickering from the odd fishing boat, and listen to the tide lapping the shore. Our favourite holiday place.
“Gulls echo and bob above the sea, kite-like.” … love that. My grandma used to take me to the beach and she would sit on a bench, flying her kite for hours. Tight writing, authentic description, well done.
I used to spend long summers as a kid in a hut built by my uncle down on the Ayrshire coast. Rocks and pebbles on the beach and the Irish sea lashing in, loved it dearly.
Lovely language, enhanced by lovely accent!
Hoots mon, och aye the noo! To you Rosemary … glad you liked
Vivid imagery – I love watching the sea – great reading too
Cheers M!
Beautiful!
Merci!
A little embarrassed to tell you this, but what the hey….have American schoolgirl crush on British accents…loved the reading..and the poem as well. Write on, Brian!
So I’ve managed to disguise my natural Noo Yoik drawl then… Just as I intended, have been practicing for weeks!
I really love the picture that you have painted of the sea as a comb stroking the edge like a bald man’s head. Inspired! thankyou.
Thanks for that Gerry , glad you liked, hope to see you back sometime!