Confronting Shadows
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Sponsor Edward Ibeh 6/7/25 Contest Name Pick-A-Title, Vol 53
On a whisper-still afternoon, with a feeling of deep calm.
The last thing I thought of was being in any harm.
From the seaside village, I had headed out to the ocean,
A day for enjoying the sea's cool, relaxing motion.
Oppressive tropical heat, unusual for this time of year.
The gentle waves lapping gave me nothing to fear.
No surfing today where the sun accentuates the glassy sea.
No other surfers in sight, today there would be no company.
There was only slight waves that barely bothered the shore.
Just the right conditions for cooling off and not much more.
The ocean offered respite from searing heat with a light breeze.
Water sparkling as each swell washed over me with ease.
The sun was playing tricks with the surface of the ocean.
At first I thought it was residue from too much sun lotion.
Shadows seemed to form and disappear all around me.
Then I considered a school of small silver-tail fish it could be.
Shadows quite large suddenly vanished giving me a fright.
Determined to find out what was lurking, that was out of sight.
Sunshine glistened and it distorted the surface of the sea.
Ominous shapes, dark and foreboding ventured so close to me,
Ambiguous forms, that unleashed a primal fear within my head,
I felt uneasy, with confronting shadows evoking a sense of dread.
My body trembled as out of the speckled patchy view so stark,
A clearly visible silhouette of a huge threatening Grey Nurse shark.
An intoxicating audible scream escaped from me, so low.
As petrified as an exhibit of an extinct mammal in a museum on show.
Motionless I stared across the shallow water at the undulating swell.
The terrifying shadow grew darker, its features could be seen so well.
Exposed and defenseless, no more ambiguity this sinister vision is real.
Assessing my isolation and vulnerability, anxiety was all I could feel.
My mind raced, heart beat felt like it would explode any second.
The shadow glided swiftly, the danger just couldn't be reckoned.
As the grotesque, black, shadowy figure now displayed its dorsal fin.
Inner fear and suppressed emotions, emerged deeply within.
I braced myself to fight as hard as I could, knowing I had little hope
The huge shark no longer a shadow, a huge threat and I cant cope.
The creature glided slowly by me through sunlit waters clearly in view.
Incredibly, it seemed that seal or even human weren't on it's menu.
On the sandy beach, in a calmer moment although still shaking,
I was pondering if it was a dream from which I was now waking.
like spilled ink across a page, the shadow seeped over the sand,
As the golden orb was absorbed by the horizon, darkening the land,
And the velvety blanket of night began to unfold ever so renewed.
All shadows meld, sink into the darkness and became subdued.
Each blurred shadow now just a memory, never to be repeated.
The shadowy predicament etched in my mind, never depleted.
Copyright © Speaks Volumes | Year Posted 2025
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