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Sea Glass

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Published: 6th July 2024

Reworked from a poem originally published: 21st May 2021

Image by Silke Lemcke from Pixabay

with bitter winds of sand and spray and flecks of rain against my face how different this land looks today a drenched, vast, unforgiving place. as turbines veiled in mist offshore first fade then vanish out at sea the sun, it seems, shines here no more with frosted air surrounding me. yet how could light forever shine upon a beach, its sea and crowds when storms have always over time obscured the sun behind the clouds? such weathered moments on the land can help cast magic with cold seas - one day this broken glass and sand may form warm, precious memories.

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Hiba Junaid

Date: 4/15/2025 2:40:00 AM

I was enveloped in such a dream-like state reading this poem, and the last two lines just brought a smile to my face. Your imagery is so beautiful, ethereal, and full of wonder. I just love reading your poems, Gary. Be Blessed, always - Hiba <3

Hiba Junaid
Date: 4/15/2025 4:05:00 AM

They really do, Gary. I completely understand what you're saying as a fellow poet. I love the rain as well. Thank you for explaining the poem's meaning - I feel as if I have discovered another layer to this wonderful poem.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/15/2025 3:20:00 AM

Thank you Hiba. This poem was my attempt to describe how we often mellow in our thoughts (and ourselves) as we get older and how the present times may not - in years to come - look as bad as we see and feel them right now; possibly due to our 'smoothing over' of memories with 'rosy recollections of times past'. This is also a reminder to myself that I can be guilty of adding sunshine to the past in my poetry when of course it rained back then as well. I’ll add that I also love to walk in the rain. The beach, the sky and the sea all take on a different ‘persona’ in adverse weather don’t they? :) Thanks again Hiba. Read you soon. Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick

Date: 1/8/2025 5:22:00 AM

I like the picture and the work. The work has good rhymes, rhythm, and flow. Way to go. Thanks for sharing it. Sara K

Gary Radice
Date: 1/8/2025 12:00:00 PM

..and thanks for your comments Sara. I very much appreciate them. Cheers - Gary

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 1/7/2025 7:42:00 PM

I love this Gary, it brought back memories of cold grey storms in New York from early memories, and then simply lit up at the end with warmer moments in spring and summer on the same beach warmed by sunshine, very contrasting moments in the same location. I do love sea glass, taking the shattered broken fragments and the sand and water polishing into beautiful sparkling gems. That is what your poem literally feels like, the redeeming of a somber place holding promise for another day. LOVELY poem

Gary Radice
Date: 1/7/2025 11:28:00 PM

Thanks Bj for your great commemts and descriptions. I'm often drawn to the sea and inclement weather for my poetry ideas. They lend themselves so well to descriptions and mood setting. It's always lovely to hear when a poem of mine is able to conjure up such thoughts and memories as your own described here Bj. Thanks so much for your visit. Cheers - Gary

Jan Allison

Date: 9/1/2024 1:11:00 PM

what an exquisite rhyme Gary, the final stanza resonates with me as someone we know had her engagement ring made out of sea glass - she and her partner spend many months on their boat in exotic foreign locations but the glass was found on our Island and designed and made here too!:-) hugs Jan xx

Gary Radice
Date: 9/1/2024 9:56:00 PM

Jan that's lovely. Lucky people. I'll be honest and say that I didn't know what the heck sea glass was before I started writing this so a quick Google put me in the picture. Some of this poem describes a walk on the beach in the rain that Ann and I got caught up in many moons ago. I remember the waves sounding louder and thinking to myself as to how powerful the sea really is. Thanks for your comments. Cheers - Gary

Susan Ashley

Date: 8/31/2024 8:37:00 AM

Dear Gary, lyrical rhythm and rhymes sweep me up and away in the melancholy beauty and introspection of your verse. Hardship does possess the magic to transform into a thing of beauty. Your golden pen shines in this amazing piece! Congratulations for your win in Craig's contest. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Susan Ashley
Date: 8/31/2024 2:05:00 PM

Yes, I love when that happens.. the best kind of poetic experience, in my humble opinion!

Gary Radice
Date: 8/31/2024 1:25:00 PM

Thank you Susan for your wonderful comments. I wasn't sure what to make of Craig's contest at first and decided I wasn't going to enter but ultimately I'm glad I did. I wasn't too clear where I was going with the poem but it appeared to just take on a life of its own when I wrote it. :) Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

Date: 8/21/2024 12:37:00 PM

Gary, your metaphoric poem is so beautifully articulated. Your poem matches the lyric cadence of the tides upon the sands. Such an enjoyable read I love the last stanza with its magic. So delighted this gem placed. Congratulations on your win. Cheers and blessings! Wonderful to see you posting again!

Gary Radice
Date: 8/21/2024 12:58:00 PM

Thanks so much Sam once again for your ongoing support and encouragement. It’s truly appreciated. I adapted an old poem of mine to fit into Craig’s contest. Thanks again. :) Cheers - Gary

Paige Hind

Date: 7/30/2024 9:03:00 PM

Beautiful work, Gary! Wow :)

Gary Radice
Date: 7/31/2024 2:09:00 AM

Thank you Paige. Thanks so much for visiting, reading and complimenting my poem. It’s all very much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Charlotte Puddifoot

Date: 7/27/2024 1:17:00 PM

a lovely poem written in your signature style, which i always enjoy, and a good take on the contest theme - congrats on your placement!

Gary Radice
Date: 7/28/2024 4:37:00 AM

Thanks Charlotte. Congratulations to you too for your stunning poem that won. I think there’s a specific style that Craig particularly likes, one that comes so naturally to you and a style that if I attempted..well..my poem wouldn’t even get off the ground. :) Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 7/24/2024 7:55:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. A wonderful write with a pretty picture. On one beach I once found some pretty sea glass. I wish you would write more.... Have a blessed day writing away...............

Gary Radice
Date: 7/24/2024 12:48:00 PM

Thanks Paula. It was interesting to read everyone’s take on Sea Glass with their entries. I’ll be honest and state that I’m not a great lover of contests but I felt the pull of Craig’s subject here and the words flowed. Cheers - Gary

Ink Empress

Date: 7/23/2024 11:06:00 PM

Back to congratulate you on your win: this is beautiful: and i loved it

Gary Radice
Date: 7/24/2024 12:02:00 AM

Thank you I E. Cheers - Gary

Ink Empress

Date: 7/14/2024 11:29:00 AM

dear gary, this is beyond beautiful and so deeply meaningful and i love the questioning there and how youv also painted imagery in such a captivating cadence! You have a way with words and delivering thoughts in such an eloquent manner. And i especially loved “one day this broken glass and sand might form warm, precious memories.” Hope amidst all storms that obscured the sun and veiled its gold is why this is precious and soulfully divine and uplifting! Pleasure reading this! Best wishes

Gary Radice
Date: 7/14/2024 11:47:00 AM

Thanks so much Ink Empress for your wonderful words. Cheers - Gary

John Oldham

Date: 7/13/2024 4:52:00 PM

Love the take on this, Gary. Unique perspective taking the negative as a common thing (which it is), but then turning it into a future positive. I'm liking your poems - Best, John

Gary Radice
Date: 7/13/2024 9:15:00 PM

John, thanks so much for your visit, comments and the great compliment. I appreciate it all. Cheers - Gary

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 7/13/2024 10:18:00 AM

I love your flow and meter, your rhymes always come together seamlessly, I also like the contrast of cold rain and the image of sunny beaches, hope it's a winner for you~

Gary Radice
Date: 7/13/2024 2:53:00 PM

Thank you Michelle. The first 6 lines were from an old (now deleted) poem. Lines 7, 8 and the last 2 stanzas were added later. I saw the potential for it when I saw Craig's contest. Place or no place I enjoyed the challenge and its one of those rare poems I've written that didn't need too many rewrites until I was happy with it. :) Cheers - Gary

Paul Callus

Date: 7/10/2024 2:15:00 PM

This poem brings into view your technical abilities, Gary. The broken glass meets the challenge of the moody sea, and over time loses its jaggedness becoming smoothly frosted; same things happens to us as we mellow with the passing of time. ~ Best regards // paul

Gary Radice
Date: 7/10/2024 2:39:00 PM

Thank you Paul. I have edited my initial reply to you as I was rambling on too much and in the end only managed to say half of what you had already said in your great comments so succinctly. LOL! Thanks again Paul. Your comments are very much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

Date: 7/10/2024 10:07:00 AM

Gary, this is pure poetic delight! Your imagery is spot on delivering a sense of turmoil in an "unforgiving place" of "weathered days" in "frosted air" topped off with a sense of hope. Just really well done. I think I see a winner here! Cheers and blessings. Wonderful to have you writing again! This is a fav for me.

Gary Radice
Date: 7/10/2024 11:09:00 AM

Thanks so much Sam for your lovely comments. I tend not to enter contests now Brian's have finished (I liked his 'old poems allowed' mantra) but I saw potential in reworking an older poem of mine that, with a bit of work I thought, could be shoehorned into Craig's contest. As with all contests I enter it's nice to place but more important to me is the fact that I'm just happy with my poem...and I'm 99% happy with this one. :) Thanks for the fav Sam and, as always, your valued comments. Cheers - Gary

David Crandall

Date: 7/7/2024 10:40:00 PM

great poem, Gary, like especially the last two lines.

Gary Radice
Date: 7/7/2024 10:44:00 PM

Thanks David. While you were very kindly commenting on my poem I have amended the poem very slightly. Hope you still like it. :) Cheers - Gary

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/6/2024 6:52:00 PM

Love this, Gary. Wish I could think how to do this challenge

Gary Radice
Date: 7/6/2024 9:40:00 PM

Thanks Andrea. Craig's contests certainly make you think outside the box. Cheees - Gary

Tom Woody

Date: 7/6/2024 5:41:00 AM

You're so good at rhyme and meter and your poems always carry a message, sometimes subtle. Must be a contest on sea glass I've seen several now. If so I pick yours for the wiener, er winner!

Gary Radice
Date: 7/6/2024 8:27:00 AM

Thanks Tom. During those periods when my muse takes a holiday I often look back at my old poems and rework them. It keeps the poetic ink flowing. The first two stanzas are basically an older poem of mine bar lines 7 & 8 (all now pulled) and the final two stanzas are the result of me waking at 5am this morning with an idea or six that came together without much hassle - I’m happy with the result…it’s certainly not my ‘wurst’ poem. :) Cheers - Gary

Lin Lane

Date: 7/6/2024 4:29:00 AM

Some poets strive to rhyme, some to send a message, and some who want to be recognized as a poet just throw down words, helter-skelter hoping others will think them clever. Gary, your poetry succeeds each time you put pen to paper with perfect rhyme, cadence, and message... always beautifully expressed.

Lin Lane
Date: 7/6/2024 8:24:00 AM

You're very welcome, Gary. I completely share your reason for writing. It was my pleasure to commend you for your poetic talent. ;-)

Gary Radice
Date: 7/6/2024 8:19:00 AM

Such lovely, encouraging comments Lin. Thank you, I truly appreciate them. I always strive to focus on most (if not all) of the elements you have mentioned here. I honestly write primarily for myself and as long as I’m happy with the finished work then it’s a great thrill for me if others enjoy them too. Comments such as yours make this hobby of mine feel all the more worthwhile. Cheers - Gary

Yann Rolland

Date: 7/6/2024 2:25:00 AM

enjoyed your fine poem, always keep memories, abd or good, take care

Gary Radice
Date: 7/6/2024 8:04:00 AM

Thank you Yann. Memories tend to write my poems. :). Cheers - Gary