Keith Bickerstaffe | + Follow Poet |
Verse | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Chrysaora Quinquecirrha

Camouflaged and coruscating, 
skating in their see-through costumes, 
part of nature's bold militia, 
shuffling, you send them on their way.

Chrysaora Quinquecirrha, 
jellyfish abound and flounder 
'neath the surface, smooth as glass, they
pester, and you're irritated,
epidermis infiltrated,
soon you will be hobbling away! 

Deeper still the riptide churns, 
it's learned the tales of tragedy, 
as you pursue the ocean blue 
with rubber rafts and play toys. 
Do not cheat the warning buoy, 
listen for its tell-tale sounds, 
the bottom of the sea is out of bounds.

               *******

Inspired by Hart Crane's series of poems
about the dissolution of a relationship.

Copyright © Keith Bickerstaffe | Year Posted 2015

Please Login to post a comment

Terry Robinson Date: 1/4/2016 5:16:00 PM This poem strikes me as a series of nuances, that begin with a sliding scale of depth of sorrow and perhaps warning anger. Using the jelly fish as a euphemism for the villian or master of the subject was clever. As they possess both allure and bit in equal measure. Well conceived and good imagery. Hope I've understood at least the basic tenet of the poem. Login to Reply Keith Bickerstaffe Date: 1/4/2016 5:45:00 PM Crane's meanings can be a bit obscure at times, at least to me, but what you got out of my piece was exactly how I interpreted him. Thanks for you time and effort! Keith Terry Robinson Date: 1/4/2016 5:17:00 PM Bite, not 'bit'

Terry Robinson Date: 1/4/2016 3:22:00 PM Too deep to read through once and catch its drift. I need a few more reads Login to Reply Terry Robinson Date: 1/4/2016 3:44:00 PM Thanks for the insight. Euphemisms are a special breed of poems that I enjoy Keith Bickerstaffe Date: 1/4/2016 3:32:00 PM Thanks for looking this one up... I am most grateful. Crane wrote a series of six poems about the dissolution of a homosexual relationship, his own.