Philip de Jong Poet Choka

Reflection/s - Turtles on the Beach - SK

Turtles on the beach,
From burrows called by the moon,
Drawn to the sound of the sea.
Morning comes too soon.
Shadows of curved trapezoids,
Appear on the sand ahead.
Now they're caught between,
Never born and surely dead.

I'm struck by an unknown rush,
At ten years of age.
Golden laughter leads me to,
Put my feelings to the page.
Found after recess,
With everyone standing there,
Subjected to ridicule,
Love stings those who dare.
Who claims life or love is fair?

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Alison A Smith September 23, 2026 at 10:30 PM A poignant, beautifully restrained reflection: the turtles’ doomed journey becomes a powerful mirror for the speaker’s first experience of vulnerable, public heartbreak. The compact choka-like movement and clean, declarative language let the images accumulate with real emotional force—especially the transition from moonlit beach to the cruelty of the schoolyard.