Laurentine G Poet Ekphrasis

The Depths of the Sea

Held too tight
              what we want
       	becomes a haunting
~ a bound wish
             	we'd undo a thousand times ~
                      as we clutch the dead
                     	seized by siren song
 	we plunge to grasp at connection
             	yet arrive to mourn its passing

     	~ I sing no more of wanting ~
      I'll let light dance on the surface
   savour it
     	let it dissipate
                     linger only
           	in how it felt
          to be
        t
      h                                   	
          e

              o                      .
                b                  °
           	j
       	    e                          
        c
          t           	 °
                      °   	
                  of

                     	d
                      e
                 	s           
                    i
               	r
                  e

                for one stalled breath
    for it cannot survive
                the depths of the sea

#9 placement (premier)

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Paige Hind February 24, 2026 at 10:34 PM That last line, a big WOW. "one stallled breath" cannot survive "depths of the sea" in my favs Laurentine G February 24, 2026 at 10:39 PM Hurray! Thank you :) the painting is quite haunting - well worth checking out and you'll see why it inspired the poem. Thank you for the fav :)

Ghairo Daniels February 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM Excellent shape for the Ekphrasis, Laurentine. I felt title in the poem. This is a superb line ; “ we plunge to grasp at connection yet arrive to mourn its passing” All the space you’ve given poem is very refreshing. Well done in the Contest. Great Sea Love your way. X. Laurentine G February 21, 2026 at 2:15 AM Thank you Ghairo - I enjoyed creating this poem and trying to feel from the paintings perspective. Glad you liked it

Suzette Richards February 20, 2026 at 2:07 AM "~ I sing no more of wanting ~" is my fav line - it hits differently. The layout adds to the overall experience - a pleasure to behold and read. ~Su Laurentine G February 20, 2026 at 2:21 AM Thank you so much Su :) I really appreciate your kind words x

David Kavanagh February 18, 2026 at 10:38 AM Now this is what happens when you don’t follow Sting’s Advice (if you love somebody set them free) I don’t know why but that song leaped out at me whilst reading, A beautifully shaped poem in every sense Miss Godspeed, who’d be a Siren eh! :) cheers David Laurentine G February 18, 2026 at 1:27 PM Haha Sting can never make his mind up lol - I've not put a link to the painting but it's by Edward Coley Burne-Jones and gives a slightly different lens on the siren (who typically just discard the bodies without emotion). I have pondered sirens a number of times - always endlessly fascinating by design I suppose! Thank you for your kind support, always appreciated :)