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great north diver

entry picture

 

Solitary in winter

I find you on the beach

sleepbound.

 

I’ve walked some miles across this sand

wind knocking me back.

On my right the sea battles.

My hair lashes my face.

 

In this chaos of desolation

you are a concentrated essence

a nugget of pure exhaustion.

What lies behind your dreaming ruby eye?

 

The pressure of the sea

heavy as green glass encasing you

as you force yourself down

to where fish dart and crabs scuttle?

 

So solidly still,

so alive in your sleep.

Full fathoms deep in it!

 

You are so here

yet so elsewhere!

 

There’s a place on the internet

where I can hear you call.

I tune in when I can.

 

Your sound is loneliness.

 

 

 

 

nature

◄ beautiful in snow

autumn egg ►

Comments

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Ann Foxglove

Fri 21st Oct 2011 07:58

That bird had so much presence - even when fast asleep. I couldn't even see its head as it was firmly tucked under its wing. I'd love to see some of these birds when they're awake.
I heard some seals too, they howl softly like hounds. Another spooky sound, but very beautiful.

<Deleted User> (7212)

Fri 21st Oct 2011 07:51

I listened to the divers call as well - lonely, sad. I've heard it before somewhere - maybe on "Twin Peaks" I think..

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Ann Foxglove

Fri 21st Oct 2011 06:27

Thanks for re-visiting the shores of my poem Greg, at this early hour!

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Greg Freeman

Fri 21st Oct 2011 06:19

My bird book describes its song as a "mournful wail, rising". To repeat my migrated comments ... I enjoyed this very much, it has echoes of Ted Hughes and DH Lawrence, and my favourite lines are these:

So solidly still,
so alive in your sleep.
Full fathoms deep in it!

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Lynn Dye

Thu 20th Oct 2011 20:37

Oh, how annoying for you, Ann!! We can see you got comments from the list on the left, but can't read them. (Take no notice of that Banksy! haha.)
I was too busy to comment on this when I spied it earlier, now I see the personified is missing off the end... anyway, love it either way. I listened to the diver's call on youtube, very haunting. xx

<Deleted User> (7212)

Thu 20th Oct 2011 18:57

HaHa........... liar

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Ann Foxglove

Thu 20th Oct 2011 18:52

Poo poo poo! I tried to add the soundtrack but then everything went AWOL! And (you prob won't believe me) I'd had some really nice comments too! So I've re-posted.

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