Best Lifeguards Poems
Wind and sea and waves and sun
sand in toes as day is done
Seagulls glide, sandpipers run
young dad splashes with his son
Breakers rise, translucent teal
lifeguards poised as youngsters squeal
Seniors search for shells - they feel
twelve again as sun rays heal
Sky on fire towards the west
clouds in lustrous fashion dressed
Cosmic artistry - I'm blessed
songs of peace swirl through my chest
Violins waft quietly
over swelling timpani
Saxophone soars soulfully
bidding hearts to be set free
Blushing scarlet, clouds advance
smell of salty foam enchants
Palm trees sway as in a trance
recalls young love's first slow dance
Couples stroll, fingers entwined
share a kiss if so inclined
Rising moon smiles as designed:
gives the anxious peace of mind
Waves still warm from midday blaze
surfers dance in sea-mist haze
Sailboats flee from stress-filled days
springtime struts; summer sashays
written 23 June 2023
Categories:
lifeguards, beach, sea, summer, water,
Form:
Rhyme
The seashore is a wondrous stage, for in the sun's delight,
I sit and watch a play unfold- it's there within my sight!
Those beauties, young with golden tans, demurely sashay by
In search of those admiring eyes that peep so deft and sly.
While young dudes with their virile forms and sun-bleached wavy hair,
Strut back and forth so confident with sort of haughty air.
Small children, filling up their pails, build castles made of sand,
While fathers take a break from rest to lend a helping hand.
And mothers being what they are- in their protective lots,
Are ever rubbing suntan cream on freckled, sunburned tots.
Those chunky mid-life guys and gals packed tight in swim attire
Add so much fullness to the scene, for those to see, admire!
And oldsters wrapped up tight and snug to shield from wind and sun,
With eyes shut under hats of straw, in dreamland have their fun!
At water's edge, the tame are found, waves rolling at their feet;
While further out, some brave the swells to make their fun complete.
And there, up high on pedestals, bronzed lifeguards oversee
With ever watchful, cautious eyes, the shore's activity.
And here I sit, a spectator, relaxed this summer day-
But, am I too a character to those who look my way?
April 20, 2015
Premiere Contest: My Favorite Vacation In Rhyme
Sponsor: L Milton Hankins
Categories:
lifeguards, beach, humor,
Form:
Rhyme
Sand in sheets
scuffing skin and reminding
last nights attire reaks like bonfire
a hundred days like this
a sea of endless laughs rolling
like filmreels infinitely looped fantastic
Their cars rolled in, shiney and pretentious
personalized plates waxed clever wit
crowding this small town to gloat in sand-side castles
Yacht club yucks shelling bucks like bayou crayfish
condescending, fun loving, brash Chicago touristas
Bless their daughters who filed in sassy
chin up, chest out trustafarians
scents of coconut lotion and clinique perfume
wafting through our warm lake breeze reality
Giddy and loving our rough edged style
intending to slum with townies, like we minded...
smiles glowing in those bonfire nights
mischievious and promising...
Every action thereafter defied catholic school education
...benificiaries of repression rebellion...like we minded!
Lake Michigan was paces from my bedroom window
These sparrow serenaded mornings..
...morphing into something amphibious
when the alewives were raked, we lay lazy
Bodies melted into sand~~ sated with sun
splashing back to cool off in sandbars
coolers anchored in those cool waters
taking long pulls off a perspiring Heineken
Beach days concluded with seagulls off to hunt
Squaking as they ascended into pink and orangecicle skies
The water shimmered like a million illuminated snakes
...side winding-mirrored the suns final say
Couples pulled up to Harbor landing to see the show
heads melted into one mass in windshields all around
lovers seeing nature's beauty more vibrant as lovers do...
The sunset brings a new purple backdrop
squaks are replaced with crickets chirps
Bright-then-fading green...BRIGHT-then fading green
Children gathered fireflies in jars laughing
Ice cream stained faces aglow with captive glee
Then to black and star filled, became the sky
we returned to cooler sand pushing between our toes
scurrying through dunegrass seeking driftwood and brush
creating a structure to take to flame...a science for proud boyscouts
There we gathered with newfound gals from cross lake 'burbs
sunrise would end our night tonight...awaking to lifeguards scolding.
Inspired by John Heck's Summer Contest!!
Categories:
lifeguards, nostalgia
Form:
Free verse
Henry David Thoreau
Spent two years in a one room chateau
Went to the pond to dip his booty
No dice – lifeguards off-duty
Categories:
lifeguards, humorous,
Form:
Clerihew
Murky sea this day as she wades chest deep
Battling strong waves with every step
No other swimmers, no lifeguards, no sun
Nary a gull on the beach so windswept
Solitude is her preference, she floats
Closes her eyes, attempts to clear her head
She’s tossed about, but opts to remain
She’d rather be here than alone in bed
Suddenly she feels a slippery nudge
To her feet she slips, scans surrounding sea
No life in sight, but she’s drifted out far
Her heart pumps fast, she swims feverishly
Another bump! Is this her worst nightmare?
Sea creature preying ‘neath turbulent surf?
White caps surround and her cries reach no ears
A painful sting, she’s p
u
l
l
e
d
.
.
.
For Gareth's "Leave Me Hanging" challenge
Categories:
lifeguards, angst, sea
Form:
Narrative
city swimmer yesterday
screamed a fish was in the way
lifeguards who had heard the shout
quickly tried to pull her out
and my goldfish from the bay.
Categories:
lifeguards, crazy, funny, giggle, humor,
Form:
Limerick
As I look outside I see,
the setting sun behind the trees
This summer day is ending now
The season too will soon be gone.
Summer days again have passed
But the memories will last
Until again the solstice comes
And brings with it the summer sun.
Till then we can but look back upon
The great times under that sun
Swimming, boating picnics too
baseball, burgers and hot dogs too
The boys of summer are going home
The stadiums seem all alone
No more swimming at the lake
Lifeguards get to take a break
No more volleyball at the beach
chasing volleys out of reach.
Sand castles have been blown down
no footprints in the sand are found
Ice cream stands have been shut down
not a single cone to be found.
Carnivals once open nightly
All their lights shining brightly
They too have gone out of sight
leaving just a cold dark night
The scent of popcorn wafts in the air
Not a kernel hiding anywhere.
Yes summer it is surely gone
On comes Autumn full and strong
Leaves are turning on the trees
Till they fall and are knee deep.
Followed up with winter's fury
Snowy days and backs are hurting
icy build ups everywhere
Santa's visit coming near
Makes me long for warmer days
basking in those sunlit rays.
So I will sleep ... no hibernate
See you at the end of May!
Categories:
lifeguards, summer,
Form:
Rhyme
I am reminded of songs by the Beach Boys
who sang of idyllic summers
The city beaches are with
lifeguards to protect those in danger
The asphalt homeland
is filled with tourists
and I also note that there are youth
playing handball in the parks
Light from the sky beats down on the homeland
The masses of people in the city
are experiencing a heat wave
The water stations are open
So the people can drink deep
Everyone possible should drink deep
of the joys of summer in
what O.Henry called
"Baghdad on the Hudson"
Categories:
lifeguards, beach, summer, urban,
Form:
Ballad
Sandy the Sandman.
Was a super duper dude.
With a surfboard pack and a seashell nose
and two eyes made out of food.
Sandy the Sandman.
Would always love to play.
He was made of sand,
but the lifeguards know
how he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic
in those swimming trunks they found,
for when they placed them on his legs
he began to swim around.
Oh, Sandy, the Sandman.
Swam so far out in the sea
and the lifeguards say
he would swim all day,
further than you and I can see.
Swishy, swoosh, splash, swishy, swoosh, splash
Look at Sandy's zest!
Swishy, swoosh, splash, swishy, swoosh, splash
He's simply the best!
Oh, Sandy the Sandman.
Knew the sun won't shine all day,
so he said, "Let's surf, and we'll have some fun
before the moon comes back to stay."
Wave upon wave
with a surfboard in his hand.
Surfin' high and low
against ripples fast and slow
Sayin', "Catch me if you can"
Even the fishies decided to surf along,
till he led them too close to the shore,
right to the lifeguard's hut,
where he fell off his board
when he heard them holler "Stop!"
Hmm, Sandy the Sandman
Fishies can't lie on the beach!
So he waved them bye, sayin' "See you at sunrise
when the sun looks like a peach."
Swishy, swoosh, splash, swishy, swoosh, splash
Look at Sandy's zest!
Swishy, swoosh, splash, swishy, swoosh, splash
He's simply the best!
Categories:
lifeguards, fun, parody,
Form:
Lyric
Summer Memories of Long Ago
(for Frank Herrara's Summer Memory Contest)
Playing stickball in the schoolyard
Roller skating with my friends
Playing hide and seek
Wishing vacation never ends
Saturday at the movies
Where you couldn't hear a word
As Flash Gordon flew through space
(That really was absurd!)
Swimming in the ocean
Waves pounding against your skin
The lifeguards calling you back
When the water reached your chin
Ice cream was a nickel
Comics were a dime
Life was really simple then
Another place...another time
Children everywhere were safe
No one locked their doors
But those of us who remember this
Are known as dinosaurs!
Copyright(c)2006 Beatrice Boyle
(All rights reserved
Categories:
lifeguards, childhood, nostalgia,
Form:
Rhyme
August twilight, dog days
Summer languishes, soon to go
Auburn shades fade to grey
The pool is so warm that nobody stays
Past ten AM, lifeguards wait to close
In the August twilight, the dog days.
Distant images waver in heat’s haze
Cricket’s chirp begins to slow
As auburn shades fade to grey.
Passive gulls perched by the bay
Would fly if the wind would blow
In the August twilight, the dog days.
Mom says it’s too hot to play
Listless pleas, she says no
And auburn shades fade to grey.
World watching as the last rays
Die slowly, sun drooped low
In August twilight, dog days
Auburn shades fade to grey.
Categories:
lifeguards, august, color, image, nature,
Form:
Villanelle
Bottle Nosed Dolphins
So powerful, yet graceful
Lifeguards of the sea
Categories:
lifeguards, nature, sea,
Form:
Haiku
The air is cold with skies of multi-grays
as snowflakes fall and paint a wintry scene.
I think of summer warmth and fun-filled days;
yet many winter days must pass between.
But not for me! You see I have a trick!
This brand-new world of magic works for me
to visit summer resorts, here to pick
within my v i r t u a l r e a l i t y.
Here on a beach where lifeguards flirt and wink
as gentle waves come rolling at my feet,
and handsome waiters offer me a drink-
I so enjoy my tropical retreat.
So let it snow! I'll visit where there's sun-
switch winter blahs to magic summer fun!
~2nd Place~
Contest: ''V'' New or Old Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Theme Chosen: 5- Visit
Judged: 11/22/2021
~2nd Place~
Contest: Virtual Reality
Sponsor: Jamie Penn
Judged: 08/22/2018
~6th Place~
Contest: A Funny Sonnet How Your Winter
Turned Into Summer
Sponsor: Brenda Chiri
Judged: 08/30/2017
Categories:
lifeguards, change, magic, seasons, surreal,
Form:
Sonnet
Bountiful castles with walls of sand
Each grain an intricate part
Albatross squawk in high demand
Con morsels from those with soft hearts
Hot bodies bask in the blazing sun
Bikinis boast dangerous curves
Lifeguards patrol tanned to well done
As surfers show off their steel nerves
Nautical transports battle the swells
Kites soar aloft dot the sky
Enveloped in rays and happy kid yells
Transfers to a new level high
Blankets of color protect fragile skin
Immense weight of stress melts away
Nod off gently and try to imagine
Going to work every day
On a beach where work is like play
Randy Steele
Beach Blanket Bingo contest
Categories:
lifeguards, happiness, peace, places, sea,
Form:
Acrostic
Dylan Carston was a well-off young man,
thanks to a large and health trust fund,
his father was a true Wall Street ace
and had been quite generous to his sons.
Dylan had set himself up in Miami
after years spent getting his MBA,
he did consulting four days every week,
the other three he did like to play.
He’d partied with friends at all the bars,
and had his share of hot one-night stands,
not yet had he thought of a wife and kids,
he was enjoying the life of a young man.
One Saturday as he walked down the beach
to get exercise and breath the sea air,
he stumbled upon a frantic woman
calling for him to go over there.
As he drew near he saw down in the sand
a young woman who’s face had gone blue,
he could see no lifeguard near where they were,
but fortunately he knew what to do.
He found no pulse when he listened close,
and placed two hands high on her left breast,
with hard compression he began CPR,
pumping furiously at her chest.
Every so often he placed his mouth on hers
and forced oxygen deep into her lungs,
the other woman ran off to find more help
while Dylan continued the rhythmic pump.
Finally after three desperate minutes
a gurgled rasp echoed up from her throat,
life returned to her, the blue fading out,
though her eyes still knew not where to go.
Moments later he heard the rush of feat,
the lifeguard and the woman had returned,
Dylan gestured to where the girl lay,
“I brought her back, now I think it’s your turn.”
The lifeguard thanked him for taking action,
then knelt down slowly at the victim’s side,
ambulances came, reports were fill out,
when Dylan left three hours had gone by.
He felt good about saving the woman’s life,
it was a moment he would not forget,
congratulations came in, on top of that
the lifeguards sent him a certificate.
Three weeks went by and Dylan returned to
the safe routines of the everyday world,
and bit by bit his thoughts turned away
from the near death of that helpless girl.
So it was with a great deal of surprise
when a process server told him these words:
“Dylan Carston, you’re being sued for assault,
you can consider yourself dully served.”
Dylan’s mind whirled at the accusation,
he had no idea how this could be true?
Had some ex regretted their time and cried ‘rape,’
were they evil enough to go down that route?
CONCLUDES IN PART II.
Categories:
lifeguards, abuse, anger, beach, dark,
Form:
Narrative