A Midsummer Night's Beach

When I was a girl, still on the island
I’d sit in the sand
and brood
and revel
in what I thought was utter enlightenment
a teenage rebel
with dime-store refinement
We were all this way, and there is no shame
In the unchecked mind of us in our prime
The best nights of those
When the sea was calm and
The moon was out and
Blazingly bright, it would light up the night
Set the whole ocean glowing
Like a deep inky opal
Translucent abyss of black
Lightly flecked
With an iridescent waltz of electric blue, neon purple, alien green, and diamond white
It was on these nights
That I’d get in the water

By some stunning feat of abrasive wave action
Or possibly some secret dolphin magic
A tide pool would arise
A lagoon off the shore
Drifting and shifting over the course
Of a week, maybe two
Drifting out, drifting in
Widening out, slimming in
Shallow enough to sit in at dawn
Submerged to my neck at the day’s final yawn
Defiant of the perpetuity of the ocean at large
A toy trench off the shore
Spanning the length of a whale
Sometimes less, sometimes more
My own nascent Marianas
Never failed to provide
An off-shore haven where I could reside
These transient channels, clear and serene
Cut off from the rest of the sea
By a vast steppe of water, ankle deep
Separating me in my watery kingdom
Where no monstrous creature of the deep could reach
Out and out that plain stretched
(Only once did I test it)
Till that clean sandy bottom would begin its descent
Slowly at first, then quickly it went
Down to the unknown dark

Into a child queen of a tiny sea world, I’d transform
Springing up from the bottom of pulverized quartz
To shatter the surface between the water and the night
Send millions upon millions of droplets of brine
Glittering and spinning off into the night
I’d leap out my trench, onto that shallow plain
Sprint out to the edge of my earth and breathlessly gaze
out over the hidden deep
Reminded I’m only a guest
The ocean is neither mine nor yours to keep
Having drunk my fill of humility
I’d spin round
Fly back
Dive back down
Into my fleeting empire, my sea of tranquility
My throne resumed, I’d splash and play
With the smile of the summer Milky Way
Shooting out of the ocean, slicing the southern sky
The universe itself keeping a loving and watchful eye
As the earth showed me exactly who she was
No pretense
I’d dig my fingers into the satiny sand
And feel its realness
Every cell of my skin feeling the water rush across
As I coasted, submerged, along the bottom and lost
Myself from the rest of mankind
Then I’d rest my head back on that broad sandy mesa
Gaze up at my friends Scorpius, Aquarius, and Cassieopiea
Small ripples of water lapping at my temples

Barring defense of Descartes’ deceiving God
Not a thing in all the world could ever make me doubt
That every sensation that I felt
in those days
Was a whisper from the cosmos telling me about
The ways to be and
The ways to see and
All the states of mind that reveal
What is good, and true, and right, and real

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017



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Date: 11/13/2018 7:29:00 PM
Beautiful
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Date: 12/10/2017 1:12:00 PM
This is special. As good as anything on here. Well done
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Date: 1/12/2017 5:24:00 AM
WOW
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Date: 1/11/2017 4:49:00 AM
Oh, and the ocean is not only a favorite muse, but the place where I have always sought refuge - from childhood to today. Much of my work reflects it in different ways - that and the night sky - so any such work is joy to me. Have you ever read Whitman's "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" or "On the Beach at Night" ... two works that I still can't read without bringing tears and chills. This reminded me of those, and I can't give higher compliment than that. ;-)
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Carolyn Fish
Date: 1/11/2017 9:56:00 AM
I have not read those, but I will now. And I'm really honored that this poem reminded you of two works that you love. And I agree, it is hard sometimes to keep the inner child alive. I'm not always tapped in, but I try. Love your visits and reviews, thanks Greg!
Date: 1/11/2017 4:44:00 AM
My work prevents me from getting to read much of others' works here at The Soup, but few new members have charmed me and touched my imagination and spirit as you have, this work especially. I, myself, try to hang onto that child inside - especially when writing - and while some would call it immature, for me it is essential to keep our imagination active, visceral and even capricious. You are certainly tapped into that, and it's a quality in writing that I adore. Can't wait to read more!
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Carolyn Fish
Date: 1/11/2017 9:55:00 AM
Thank you!
Date: 1/8/2017 8:04:00 PM
I really liked how what is real comes from a "whisper of the cosmos". I love nature, especially the ocean. Great poem Carolyn !
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Carolyn Fish
Date: 1/8/2017 11:26:00 PM
Thank you :)
Date: 1/5/2017 12:37:00 PM
Wow, truly an inspiring wet dream. Thanks for sharing.
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Carolyn Fish
Date: 1/5/2017 1:54:00 PM
.. Thanks! Erm, I don't really know of any other use of the term "wet dream" other than to describe an erotic dream resulting in involuntary.. erm.. ya know. Which is totally OK, open to interpretations. But really its just a recounting of my childhood living on the beach. But either way, glad you liked the poem!
Date: 1/4/2017 4:53:00 PM
I agree with Chris, this piece is uniquely beautiful and wondrously deep! Creativity on this poem outshines any piece I've ever done methinks! You have a rare and truly wonderful talent! Adding to my fav list, be it free verse or epic..
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Carolyn Fish
Date: 1/4/2017 5:05:00 PM
Thank you! These positive reviews mean so much! I used to write all the time, and then just stopped for years. It is only within the past 6 months that I started writing regularly again, so I've been a little self-conscious about my work. Sharing and getting these positive vibes has helped my confidence and creativity tremendously, so thank you!
Date: 1/4/2017 3:04:00 PM
Carolyn, I am not sure either how to classify this as far as a poetic form but this piece of writing is definitely epic. What an amazing and magical journey my mind has just been on while reading your work. This I outstanding, incredibly creative and wonderfully expressed. Really nicely done. More people need to read this. This is a prime example of very cool poetry.
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Carolyn Fish
Date: 1/4/2017 4:04:00 PM
Wow thank you! I'm very glad this poem was able to transport you to a time and place that is so special to me. There was a lot of nostalgia and visceral memory that went into this, so I didn't want to restrict it too much by forcing any particular rhyme scheme or meter (but most of the time rhyme just kinda comes out of me anyway). I'm glad I'm not alone in being confused as to what category this poem fits into.
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