Ladder Bay

I come to this little cove often -
 no work, I have time to burn.
See Asians plunder its foreshore,
 I still fish - show no concern.

Red-bill seagulls fly in circles,
 fight over scraps they have won.
Never giving a thought to Icarus
 who flew too close to the sun.

Soon a woman wanders over
 and asks me what I’ve caught.
I tell her nothing yet but “you’d
 be a great catch” I thought.

I know the swallows smirk at me,
 my appearance they detest.
I cast my line and ignore them
(or at least I do my best).

Things start spinning in my head
 like what it’s like to drown.
Did King Neptune sit on a throne
 and did he wear a crown?

I come alone to this place often
 to remember and reflect.
A place of beauty and meaning,
 a place where I can forget.

            
          Written: 1992

                ———

Ladder Bay is a sheltered cove in
the northern beaches of Auckland 
New Zealand not too far from my
home in the East Coast Bays.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2022



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Date: 11/11/2024 11:33:00 PM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Meanwhile, I greet you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
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Date: 3/17/2024 4:03:00 AM
We all need a place of “beauty and meaning to remember and reflect” and Ladder Bay sounds as good a place as any. But the irony is you also need it to forget. That’s the thing with ladders - you can climb down or you can climb up…or you can fall off. Cheers.
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Date: 2/5/2023 7:04:00 AM
Beautiful. Sounds like my kind of peaceful place!
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Date: 1/7/2023 11:30:00 PM
Thanks for sharing this. Meanwhile, by God's grace, I greet you with the peace and joy from the Lord toward a prosperous New Year 2023 along this present: "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23 of the King James Bible). God bless you.
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Date: 2/24/2022 7:51:00 PM
So resonant. Nothing like the water to calm the spirit and release the mind to wander and roam. ~ OTL... Gone Fishin'
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Date: 2/13/2022 10:16:00 PM
Fishing is a good way to make time to reflect on life, pray or meditate; and sometimes even catch something to eat for dinner. I like the way you described what a person may think as their mind wonders around to different topics while they fish. I don't a bit of that myself. The Ladder Bay sound like a great place to go for a little peace. Have a great day, Bill
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Date: 2/2/2022 10:25:00 PM
Love this Craig, been there, I lived in NZ, for 32 years, Manurewa and Manukau, your poetry bringing it all back, yes you enhance the whole place with your wonderful poetry.
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Date: 1/29/2022 6:35:00 AM
You describe it well, Craig, sounds like a great place to viist and spend time just fishing for thought. Well-done. Have a great January day, not too many left.
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Date: 1/29/2022 6:22:00 AM
there's a fine line between fishing and sitting on the bank holding on to a piece of string...gives you more time to think, reflect and write
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Date: 1/23/2022 5:57:00 AM
Really depth in this poem. Thoroughly enjoyed. Awesome! Panagiota
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Date: 1/23/2022 3:43:00 AM
What a lovely catch would it be if it was to happen, but do not give up, someday a lovely girl will catch you ! salute my friend ! alkas
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Date: 1/21/2022 5:19:00 AM
I like this poem alot! I enjoy being by the water side especially while on vacation.
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Date: 1/20/2022 1:14:00 PM
I like all the cool thoughts that came to you while fishing. especially the one secretly thinking the woman would be a good catch!!
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Date: 1/20/2022 5:23:00 AM
So far away from Malta. I had a fellow student who left to work in NZ. I know it's a lovely place. But life is the same everywhere. You must forget, I cannot forget.
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