Ashore
margins stimulate and juxtapose
edges greet with troubled, disturbing friction
faraway forces exert influence and combine relentlessly
how the Sun and Moon dance together about the planet Earth
their grasping hands pull the tidal movement around the ocean
caressing the shore beside the sea
near the coast expectation rises
enter first a magic land of machair and marram grass
where improbable miracles bloom with bright desert flowers
noise muffled in a quiet oasis clearing between tall tufted clumps
tucked below the dunes, cut with crumbling suggested sandy ways
hear a distant rhythmic w-a-s-h of sound
mating dragonflies pause and dart
ladybirds unfold their wings and count their spots
caterpillars crawl to their next destination, while skylarks swoop
excitement follows the wild sky, strange light reflecting
scramble on all-fours, hands and feet anticipate, something in the air
almost there, ... one final muscle burn!
stumbling up and over, breathe in
smell the shore, seaweed, salt spray, dimethyl-sulphide
chest and head positively bouncing, zest of negative hydrogen ions
senses merge sound and vision with slowly shifting interaction
eyes drawn over blowing sand and shallow sloping flotsam zones
carry on down to the edge of the world
flecks of vegetation catch the cheek
minute mineral grains sting, whip the pain of pleasure
playing out snaking shapes, moving as one across the beach
scurry before the wind, piling curvy shapes on half-hidden debris
kick off shoes, scrunch the toes, stretching over damper sand
walk in elation along the shoreline
rapid air snatches at the ocean
surface waves congregate and cumulate
frequency sequenced, forming, gathering, advancing
some monsters arise with their innards backlit, rolling, tumbling
collapsing, cascading, pounding, splurging, foaming, tossing, spraying
watch for hours, mesmerized
waves retreat along the shoreline
overwhelmed by the next inward rush
overlapping runs, ridges raised with eddies pooling
never exactly repeating the reach of the last pounce of the sea
gentle thump crashing, slap of a dying wave, sibilance splashing
feel alive, feet tingling wet
the constant tide moves in and out
gyrating current arriving from the dark cold depths
where sea birds dive and gannets plunge fast disappearing
feathered eyes observe, awaiting signs of flashing life and prey
perched on irregular craggy rocks below the jutting cliff defence
know that this is a dangerous place
once a refuge for hominid species
they were quartered in now-uplifted coastal caves
bones scattered across the floor, etchings on the wall
seaward bounty in times of climate change, encroaching drought
profound maritime influence resonating throughout prehistory
hear that eerie seashell sound
go further back in deep, deep-time
when cells were formed, enclosing and sealing fluid
when copying the chemistry of ancient seas into our salty blood
life evolving from smoking fumaroles, eventually flopping onto the land
gaze longingly at expansive water covering most of our oceanic world
learn to swim with the tides of our past
leap forward now to modern times
when armies escaped or invaded the beach-head
bombardment, landing craft, machine guns, tanks and men
floating bodies, barbed-wire entanglement and exploding mines
where shadows of valour and fear still roam between old fortifications
honour the dead and learn to avoid
for those countries on the margin
ripped apart by imperial and national ambition
people flounder on sinking boats, incredulous voices implore
acknowledge 'our' lives for 'your' future is caught up in 'our' existence,
in 'our' survival, 'our' acceptance, 'our' thriving, 'our' contribution
prevent 'our' children being washed ashore!
Copyright © Ian Love | Year Posted 2017
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