I've been gone so long, I try to rush, but can’t.
My calves play “push and pull” with sand-soft ground
while soles thicken against each grain’s sharp sides.
The ocean wants me, too, enough to salt
my arms before I reach her moistened edge—
I smell and taste her as I lick an itch,
both hands too full of leisure things to scratch.
Already I breathe with the billowing
skirts of ocean twirling along the shore.
And I haven’t yet felt her cold and wet
between my toes, haven’t yet dared her catch
me, suck the ground beneath and swallow me.
At the edge, Ocean’s playing catch with Earth,
tossing both live and dead beings, mixing
them up with plastic and sea glass and foam.
I place my bags above the high tide line
and bow to both Ocean and Earth, then mark space
with blanket and books and water bottle.
Ocean and Earth and Sky intersect where
I stand—between, among, and inside them
lining up bottle caps and sparkling stones.
This midsummer meeting needs no fire or drums.
Its mystery predates evil: To stay
in relationship no matter what comes.
Posted for the open link today at What's Going On?
My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2017 Susan L. Chast, revised 2026
Ah, that is the secret - "to stay in relationship (with it All) no matter what comes." I LOVE this poem, Susan. It is joyous and beautiful. I love the "billowing skirts of ocean twirling along the shore" - and "Ocean and earth and Sky" and you among them. Beautiful.
ReplyDelete"Ocean and Earth and Sky intersect where / I stand" almost as witness to all the happenings as it were. "plastic and sea glass and foam" speak volumes. I also love the playfulness of the ocean, its sweet movements. So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love your descriptions of the power of nature - and particularly like the idea of marking a place within it with a book and water bottle - Jae
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteLove a midsummer meeting that enhances the feelings towards an extended relationship for the future! It could not be anything better than having friends in many places!. Wonderful poem Susan!
Hank
So well captured, Susan – I know that feeling of calves playing ‘push and pull’! These lines too:
ReplyDelete‘The ocean wants me, too, enough to salt
my arms before I reach her moistened edge’
and
‘…I haven’t yet felt her cold and wet
between my toes, haven’t yet dared her catch
me, suck the ground beneath and swallow me.’
Susan, I absolutely love: "The ocean wants me, too, enough to salt
ReplyDeletemy arms before I reach her moistened edge—
I smell and taste her as I lick an itch,
both hands too full of leisure things to scratch.
Already I breathe with the billowing
skirts of ocean twirling along the shore."
Yes!
Between, among, inside: the living and dead all mixed together is poetic pondering and environmentally true.
ReplyDeletewow I love this Some gorgeous images like "Already I breathe with the billowing
ReplyDeleteskirts of ocean twirling along the shore." and I love that last stanza
Beautiful visuals and becoming one with your surroundings...It touched my spirit.
ReplyDelete""The ocean wants me, too, enough to salt
ReplyDeletemy arms before I reach her moistened edge—
I smell and taste her as I lick an itch,
both hands too full of leisure things to scratch.
Already I breathe with the billowing
skirts of ocean twirling along the shore."
I know that feeling so well. Beautiful imagery, Susan!