Sam Kauffman Poet Free verse

Bone Beach

Bone Beach 10-19-24 
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Bone Beach

Over barren beachheads,
Where ephemeral waves roil,
Shattered tides
Wonder of life left behind
In empty wombs that once bore pearls.

A cemetery of fleshless carrions remains
In bleached bone
To build conundrums of calcium,
Birthed in youthful rings,
In relics of festive gluttony
Without tombstones.

Abandoned
Sanctuaries, exposed,
Burn like bare flesh
From raw rays of solar outrage.

Expectant chrysalis of spiral greyness,
Chilled in the journey of cochlear moons,
Builds upon a barren shell a welcoming host
For renewal rising from churning waves - 
A symbol of resurrection from stone sands.

New life grows bones 
In grey dreams
On cast-aways.

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Gary Radice May 13, 2026 at 1:15 PM A fascinating subject elevated to another level by your vivid and very descriptive imagery Sam. “A cemetery of fleshless carrions..” What a wonderful way with words you have; carrions is a new word for me describing decaying, putrefying flesh of dead animals. :) Great work as per usual. Cheers - Gary

Rob Carmack May 9, 2026 at 6:20 AM Thank you for submitting this in my contest. Incredible, consistent writing keeping the reader engaged. Sam Kauffman May 10, 2026 at 9:18 AM Thank you so much, Rob, not only for your placement among such wonderful poems but for the opportunity to submit this poem. It is based on the ways oysters use their discarded shells to produce new oysters. In Washington there was a time when people wouldn't return the oyster shells back to the beach and they almost lost the natural oyster population. There was a campaign to encourage people to throw back the shells and the oysters have now come back from the brink! Sending you blessings and my gratitude.

Len Gasun November 24, 2024 at 5:50 AM A marvelous poem my dearest poet Sam. I enjoyed this a lot. Big Congrats on your win! Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you always and your writings. Hugs Sam Kauffman November 24, 2024 at 5:25 PM Thank you so much my dear friend! I came to realize that the oyster and its empty shells are a metaphor for resurrection where new life builds on what seems to refuse! So glad you found joy in these words! Send you blessings of joy as we come into the season that celebrates the coming of new life in a manger!

Greg Gaul November 23, 2024 at 8:11 AM Congrats dear one. Sam Kauffman November 23, 2024 at 1:56 PM Thank you so much, dear friend! So wonderful to hear from you! Sending you many blessings of inspiration!

Jennifer Proxenos October 27, 2024 at 6:51 AM Oh my goodness Sam what a gem of a poem and how eloquently you describe the selfish but inevitable death of oysters by the same who flash the calcified inner contents on their finger, but emphasizing the hope of a resurrection of how someday, these oysters will once again survive and and yield within churning waves, and all because one shell will be carelessly discarded and thrown back into the ocean, to become a host. TRULY AMAZING POETRY. Blessings, Jennifer.

Laura Leiser October 23, 2024 at 6:59 PM Your exquisite poem has just the right touch of imagery and emotion that draws one into its evocative world. A beauty! Enjoyed this one so much! :) Sam Kauffman November 13, 2024 at 10:30 AM Thank you so much, Laura! It seems to me that sometimes life grows from the most unexpected places like new oysters on old oyster shells. Truly a miraculous part of ever renewing creation. What a plan! Sending you blessings and my appreciation!

Anitha Jayasankar October 22, 2024 at 12:53 AM Excellent write dear Sam. Enjoyed reading your take on the contest. Loved the optimistic ending of renewal and resurrection. Best wishes in the contest. Hugs. ~ Ani Sam Kauffman November 13, 2024 at 9:50 AM Hi Ani, can you tell how far behind I am in responding to emails!!! Thank you for your lovely compliments! They warmed my heart. After giving this theme some thought I realized the oyster is a wonderful symbol of selflessness and renewal. Sending you all blessings..

Andrea Dietrich October 21, 2024 at 4:01 PM Amazing imagery. I smell a winner! Sam Kauffman October 24, 2024 at 10:55 AM Hi Andrea! Many thanks and much gratitude coming your way. It took some time to pull the theme together but I have to admit I do like the result! Sending you blessings and my gratitude.

Charlotte Puddifoot October 21, 2024 at 3:06 AM i always enjoy your poetry, the writing is of a consistent high standard, and this poem is no exception..hope it does well in the contest, it's such an inspiring theme, and thanks for commenting on my work, much appreciated :)

Silent One October 20, 2024 at 1:06 PM Hi Sam, I love how your poem evokes a haunting landscape where nature and time intertwine in a meditation on loss, renewal, and the cycles of life. The speaker presents a "barren" and desolate scene at a beach, where "ephemeral waves roil" — symbolizing the transience of life, with the tides serving as a metaphor for time's relentless march. The "empty wombs that once bore pearls" poignantly capture the idea of loss, gesturing toward something once precious now absent.

Arthur Vaso October 20, 2024 at 1:28 AM Sometimes is hard to comment, I have no words, I just enjoyed reading beautiful poetry! Sam Kauffman October 24, 2024 at 10:36 AM Arthur, your message says so much! Thank you. I agree. Sometimes it is hard to comment so I appreciate your visit! Hope all is well! Sending you blessings and my gratitude!

Ink Empress October 20, 2024 at 12:04 AM Dear samszy! Wow you did an exquisite take on this prompt with excellent diction that is so very fitting for the theme! I am impressed by your word weaving and how youv delivered this take! I especially love the lines “ A cemetery of fleshless carrions remains In bleached bone To build conundrums of calcium,” brilliant! And the way your poem ends too! You do dark poetry very well too dear samszy! Beautiful soul! You are such a talented poetess! Best wishes for the contest! Sending you light always Sam Kauffman October 24, 2024 at 10:31 AM Dearest Inky! Have read and re-read your beautiful message! It lifts my spirits and is so encouraging. Thank you! I love playing with words even in a "dark" subject. There were so many ways to go with this theme. Once I decided on the oyster everything seemed to fall into place. The way oysters grow on discarded oyster shells is truly miraculous and totally amazing! It is a true cycle of life with one generation giving life to the next. It is an immense joy to share poetry with you and soak in your words and the way to put them together. So grateful, dear friend. Blessings of rejuvenation to you!

Paige Hind October 19, 2024 at 8:08 PM There is life within death- beautiful and deep thoughts, :) loved the flow, like the seas Sam Kauffman October 19, 2024 at 9:04 PM Agreed! I love the way oyster shells are crucibles for new oysters. In Washington the oyster population was almost decimated because people took the oyster shells with them and there was no place for the little oysters to grow! There was a huge campaign to get people to throw the shells back on the beach and the oysters were saved! Sending you blessings!!

Darlene De Beaulieu October 19, 2024 at 3:57 PM Hello Sam What an interesting title. An amazing poem. Hugs. /Darlene/ Darlene De Beaulieu October 20, 2024 at 11:08 AM Hello Sam, i am glad you had fun to write this poem .I am happy to hear that the oysters were saved. the empty shells should be left alone not taken away. Hugs.Darlene/ Sam Kauffman October 19, 2024 at 8:58 PM Hi Darlene! Thank you so much for your visit and your wonderful feedback. The theme Anthony's contest was so intriguing. This was a fun one to think about and to write. So glad you enjoyed it! Hugs and blessings! Sam Kauffman October 19, 2024 at 8:48 PM Hi Darlene! Thank you so much for your visit and your wonderful feedback. The theme Anthony's contest was so intriguing. This was a fun one to think about and to write. So glad you enjoyed it! Hugs and blessings! Sam Kauffman October 19, 2024 at 8:33 PM Hi Darlene! Thank you so much for your visit and your wonderful feedback. The theme Anthony's contest was so intriguing. This was a fun one to think about and to write. So glad you enjoyed it! Hugs and blessings!