Sam Kauffman Poet Free verse

Voyage of the Skipping Stone

Voyage of the Skipping Stone ~

I hold you in my hand –
A skipping stone –
Cradled flat against my palm
Perfect roundness 
Dark hues, born of fire and ice, smoothed by tidal dances
Of the moon enchantress and waves.

You, cool yet warm,
Fit into that hollow in my hand
Resting somewhere between thumb and fingers
I feel your full anticipation when they close
Tight against your touch.

A quiet skipping stone that lay among other stones –
Not round nor full cheeked –
Waiting, camouflaged among the jagged granite
And fool’s gold bedazzling obsession
Wearing the silhouette of a smile
Winking now pulling my eyes into the quest.

You nestle into the curvature of my palm
Cocked within my index finger
Molded to its bends
As if the two grew as twins from birth
Stone and finger one.

I wonder of your flight –
Bouncing broad footsteps leaving ripples on the water’s face –
Short spinning heavy strides that crash into frothy waves –
Falling in homecoming with other skipping stones
Embryonic beneath the crystal christening tides
Waiting, rising up, to fly again.

Your nascent voyage remain unseen -
Plucked from prophecy, celebrations of hope’s aspiring flights -
When fingers release the perfect smooth skinned stone
Cast in a primal round of flight from shore returning
To hidden coves beneath the sea swellings among nautilus.

8-11-21
Contest: Stones
Sponsor: Anthony Biaanco

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Christuraj Alex March 11, 2022 at 8:57 PM Great story on Voyage of the Skipping Stone. "Your nascent voyage remain unseen" - Very beautifully written. Congratulations! Sam Kauffman March 12, 2022 at 2:36 PM Chris, thank you so much. I wrote this poem for a friend who was struggling with an illness. I am so glad you liked it. Blessings my friend.

Constance La France November 29, 2021 at 1:32 PM Sam, congratulations on your placement in my "V" New or Old Poems Contest ~ love and serenity _Constance

Eve Roper November 23, 2021 at 6:30 PM Sam, love the description of the stone to use and how to find them. Now I know what to look for one. I've never been good troughing one the few times in my life I tried. Congratulations on your win in Anthony's contest. Opps, Constance's contest. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with family. Hugs Eve

Gary Radice August 19, 2021 at 2:30 AM I agree with all the comments below Sam, this is a lovely free verse. The act of describing the skimming of a stone has been transformed - courtesy of your words and imagery - into something extraordinary, fascinating and profound. Cheers - Gary Sam Kauffman August 19, 2021 at 9:12 AM Gary, thank you so much. Have spent many happy hours skipping stones. Your words mean so much to me. As I thought about walking on the shoreline, finding round stones and then skipping them across the water this process seemed to me to be about the choices we make to grow and then how we repeat that process with every stone. I am so happy those reflections came through in this poem - very grateful! Cheers to you!

Malabika Ray Choudhury August 18, 2021 at 6:15 AM Dear Sam, congratulations on your win. You charm readers with your vivid imageries, and brilliant vocabulary. This poem is an exceptional one describing a stone's journey, symbolizing growth and regrowth. Love and blessings ~ Mala Sam Kauffman August 18, 2021 at 10:58 AM Dear Mala, thank you for your congratulations! Your messages always lift my heart and inspire me to keep writing. I do love this poem and felt a special pleasure creating it. It is fueled by memories of learning to skip stones - the multitude of moments of satisfaction when accomplished. For me poetry is not only building a picture but it is a visceral experience that I always hope translates into my writings. Thank you for your affirmations! I treasure them. Sending you blessings for your week dear friend. Hugs!

Sotto Poet August 11, 2021 at 5:44 PM This is not only beautiful, but it also has a calming effect on the soul. Sam, you did a great job; you take the reader into the world of the realm with your Avid pictures and wording, describing a stone's trip; you are a brilliant writer Sam, Best for a win. Sam Kauffman August 12, 2021 at 9:07 AM Lasaad, thank you! I am humbled and honored by your gracious message. I was hoping to articulate the experience of birth and re-birth through the metaphor of the stone and the process of finding the stone and skipping it across the water only to repeat the journey of the stone when found again. I so appreciate your lovely words of compliment and your best wishes! Blessings to you my friend.

David Kavanagh August 11, 2021 at 2:30 PM Excellent poetry Sam, you certainly bring the reader into the realm of the inanimate with your vivid imagery and wording, describing a mere stones journey, a gifted writer indeed, best for the contest, cheers David Sam Kauffman August 12, 2021 at 9:02 AM Hi David! Many thanks and much gratitude for your wonderful words and message. I am honored. I wanted to get into that experience of both finding a rock to skip - a childhood pastime - and the experience of the stone born and reborn as it skips across the water - the experience of growth and re-growth. So appreciate your best wishes. Hope you are well. Cheers to you!