Wave-Worn Smooth Black Stone [YWC]

The summer day shone bright and warm; the breeze lightly kissed my cheek.
I was only fifteen then and finished for the week.
My town it was in weekend mode, the traffic too damn loud.
And so I walked in pastures green to escape the maddening crowd

I sat beneath an old fig tree to escape the midday sun,
I’d stolen momma’s cigarettes and thought I’d light up one.
And God I coughed and spluttered; I wiped across my chin.
I found I had to lay right back for my head began to spin.

Stretching out I looked straight up and enjoyed the solitude,
Green leaves rustled all around and calmed my pensive mood.
Soon weariness crept over me as I lay beneath the tree
So I shut my eyes and dreamed a dream of a small boy by the sea…

------------------------------

Waves crashed angrily on the sand ahead, the ocean grey and cold,
Footprints marked a path behind in my search for the untold.
I clutched my rain-coat closer still, wind whistling through my hair,
And though a chill ran through my bones I did not seem to care.

I strode ahead with purpose; the sea called to me that day.
Like siren’s song it beckoned me; I could not stay away.
Ahead the waves retreated back and within the foam I saw
A wave-worn smooth black stone was there upon the battered shore.

I ran ahead and picked it up, so heavy in my hand;
I washed my treasure in the sea to get rid of all the sand.
Each grain across the surface gleamed like an ancient mariner’s chest
Though one did seem to catch the light more distinctly than the rest.

My eye’s looked closer at that grain despite the icy chill,
I saw each different mineral and looked even closer still.
Each molecule in that smooth dark stone, each atom I did spy
Though one much darker than the rest did catch my restless eye.

T’was black and deep like midnight sky with small pin-pricks of light,
It seemed to me that these were stars a twinkling in the night.
Across the threshold I did go to see what lay within.
I’d stepped into a universe, the waves quieting their din

Constellations, quasars bright, moons and meteorites,
I danced across the cosmos through the stars all glittering white.
I ventured forth and what a sight, like a static firework show.
Though I sensed within my deepest thoughts there was more I had to know.

One small star had planets round; one planet was deep blue,
Clouds and seas and land were seen from this heavenly view.
Closer still I had to look for I yearned to see still more,
Through heavy clouds I caught a glimpse of a distant wind-swept shore.

Waves crashed angrily on the sand below, the ocean grey and cold,
Footprints led up the storm-swept beach to a boy not nine years old.
He seemed to just be standing there though chilled right to the bone
And then I saw clutched in his hand a wave-worn smooth black stone…




Inspired by a post I wrote here and my favourite painter/poet William Blakes' Auguries of Innocence.

Well done LittleWolf!

I'm not a huge fan of poems entirely in couplet, however, the story you tell and the imagery it provokes is a very nice read.

I could easily see this being an excellent video project that would be stunning!

reply to post by 1littlewolf


I really liked that.

Thanks for sharing it.

reply to post by tsawyer2



Cheers tom,

I'm a bit of a fan of old school poetry hence the composition. It was actually incredibly difficult to get everything to rhyme whilst still maintaining the flow and not sounding too cheesy.

I was also quite pleased that I managed to include the phrase ‘T’was'.



reply to post by chr0naut


Much appreciated chr0naut

Got a flag from me.

You are stepping over uneven pavement, but your path and footsteps carry you further than you know.

Very well written for prose. The best thing: It came from your heart. Kudos.

More.

reply to post by 1littlewolf


i was fascinated how you kept the rhythm and yet made a beautiful
story flow and sound just like those crashing waves of the sea, 1littlewolf .

Originally posted by bestintentions
reply to post by 1littlewolf

 

i was fascinated how you kept the rhythm and yet made a beautiful
story flow and sound just like those crashing waves of the sea, 1littlewolf .

It was actually very hard to write, and I kept getting writers block over what rhymes with what. Like I think I said above it is very easy to make prose sound cheesy if you're not careful. But I couldn't be happier end result. I love the imagery, I love the ending, and most of all I love that others love it too. Of all the things I've written this is definitely my favorite.

Cheers for your kind words.