Seaside Reflections

Written in '85 when I was 14

It is early, and to the East I see the night
being softly shed from the earth.
The moon is barely visible through the morning clouds,
like a feather resting peacefully in a nest of cotton.
The sun’s rays flow softly across the sleeping earth,
waking the silver linings of the clouds.
They show brightly now like the gold rim
on the fine china on my grandmother’s shelf.

As I walked silently across the beaches
the cold, crisp water grasped my ankles
and then quickly ebbed into the ocean.
I say nothing so as not to ruin
the splendid beauty of God’s creation.
Instead I lay back in the cool, damp sand
and dream silly dreams of the princess
who was taken captive in the beautiful castle
I built yesterday in the sand.
And consider how man’s creation was slowly
given back to the earth.

The air is no longer quiet but filled with love 
and laughter from the children down the way and
from the small fishing boats leaving the harbor
to cast their traps.
I laid back in the sand to think,
and soon sleep takes me over
like total darkness to a small lonely candle.

When I awoke, the boats were heading home,
and the sun – tired of holding itself up –
fell reluctantly behind the horizon.

In the dusk of a once beautiful day,
I walk slowly home through the shallow water
near the beach and think to myself,

“Today was a good day. God must be proud.”
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015


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Date: 5/17/2019 10:33:00 PM
To see the beauty created by our Creator, and capture each moment through words- being at such a young age. Amazing!!! Your thoughts take my heart to the sky. May your words always float upon the page with elegance and grace. ~ Brandy
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Date: 5/14/2016 9:35:00 AM
This is a stupendous write from a 14yr old boy...( I know you are no more 14 now ) but you had and you have magical pen my dear...thank u for sharing this gem with us ...cheers !
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Brian Dempsey
Date: 5/14/2016 7:03:00 PM
Thank you for the kind comments! No, I'm no longer 14! I posted a few poems from that age that I found among my mother's things when she passed away recently. I'd not thought about those poems in many years. And I posted a few new ones from recent years - very personal. I do hope you'll take a look. I'd love the feedback from a real poet. You've written so many I don't know where to begin, but I look forward to reading some!
Date: 5/10/2016 9:54:00 PM
WOW Brian, you have a great way of expressing yourself through poetry, XOX ~LINDA~
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Brian Dempsey
Date: 5/10/2016 10:39:00 PM
Thank you so much! I took a quick look at your profile. WOW! I cannot imagine writing so many poems. I have published only a few online - an many from when I was younger. My mom recently passed away, and I found a collection of my poetry in her things. I do hope you'll read some others. I would appreciate any thoughts - especially from such an accomplished and prolific writer! Many blessings to you!
Date: 5/8/2016 2:34:00 AM
BRIAN, this is an awesome poem, thank you for sharing. *SKAT
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Brian Dempsey
Date: 5/8/2016 2:35:00 PM
Hello! Thank you so much for the kind comments. I've only written and published a few poems. I hope you'll take a look at the others. I'd love your thoughts. Many blessings! Brian
Date: 10/27/2015 10:01:00 AM
If these were your thoughts as a 14 year old, your poetry as an adult must be even more beautiful. Please continue to share. ~ Lin ~
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Brian Dempsey
Date: 10/27/2015 10:27:00 AM
BTW, you might enjoy Only a Storm. I wrote it around the same time as this one. My mom recently passed away, and I found some of these old poems in her things - long forgotten.
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Brian Dempsey
Date: 10/27/2015 10:23:00 AM
Thank you, again, Lin. I wish I had written more as an adult. I've only started writing again in the last year or so. But I've been more inspired to write having posted a few things online and reading so many wonderful pieces from others - like yours.
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