Children are the edge of every breaking wave
Floating on the depth of rolling seas
Frolicking with every passing breeze
Frothing in the winds of teenage storms
Billowing with whitecap frenzied fear
Bewildered by the coastline coming near
Thus, do they rise and break and fall
Roaring through the rocks that bid them stall
And lose the fervor with which they came ashore
To trickle through old stones now round and sweet
That play a gentle part in victory’s defeat
Undulation flows amid the aqua in silver, whitecap water spray.
2-14-2023
A Ripple To Me Poetry Contest
JCB Brul
My sister Lucille was extremely bored
She tried surfing on an ironing board
Knobby knees spread wide,
She damned nearly died
One imagined whitecap and she was floored.
SECOND PLACE WINNER
Written July 13, 2020
10/10/5/5/10 syllable count
checked with PS
submitted to "Limerick" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Lisa YY
Were I a seagull, I would glide so fine
with V-shaped wings aflutter in the breeze,
above the ocean's whitecap-wave design,
along with others, join with calls that please.
With V-shaped wings aflutter in the breeze,
creating whirling patterns that unfold,
along with others, join with calls that please-
squawks echoing, rebounding, loud and bold.
Creating whirling patterns that unfold,
I'd mesmerize with movements of my wings-
squawks echoing, rebounding loud and bold,
while hunting food amid my gatherings.
I'd mesmerize with movements of my wings
above the ocean's whitecap-wave design,
while hunting food amid my gatherings.
Were I a seagull, I would glide so fine.
January 24, 2021
Contest: If I Were A . . .
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose
Chosen: 3. If I Were A Seagull
Revised from a previous poem posted: 12/09/2019
A squabble of white seagulls dance and twine
with v-shaped wings aflutter in the breeze;
above the ocean's whitecap-wave design,
they greet the day with joyful calls that please.
With v-shaped wings aflutter in the breeze,
creating whirling patterns that unfold,
they greet the day with joyful calls that please-
squawks echoing- united, loud, and bold.
Creating whirling patterns that unfold,
they mesmerize with flutters of their wings-
squawks echoing- united, loud, and bold,
while hunting food amid their gatherings.
They mesmerize with flutters of their wings
above the ocean's whitecap-wave design,
while hunting food amid their gatherings-
a squabble of white seagulls dance and twine.
December 9, 2019
~2nd Place~
Contest: A Flock of Birds
Sponsor: Julia Ward
Judged: 10/07/2022
~1st Place~
Contest: Seagulls
Sponsor: Eve Roper
Judged: 12/20/2019
~3rd Place~
Contest: Your Best December Poem
Sponsor: John Hamilton
Judged: 12/26/2019
(a group of seagulls is called a squabble)
If ever you walk Saint de Vale’s sand beach
and see the seagulls winging low the waves,
or feel the rushing cold surf break and reach
your feet then you’ll smell ginger close to caves.
Cliffs hold back surging waters white with foam
their whitecap spay e’er hiding caves large holes,
where pirate Jean La Feet hid gold in dome
within the maze that’s taken many souls.
La Feet had plundered wide the Spanish Main
his treasures placed in secret chamber place,
and woe comes yea to those who seek in vain
to find the passage holding old coins’ case.
The beach is pleasant walking every day.
Think nay to enter gold coins water way.
Soothing sliding silvered tides, fields of verdant; rolling co-inside..'
Beards of algae flow on wrecks, phosphorescence guilds the whitecap in flecks,
As a mirror shattered myriad shines, to uneven waves that crash in; times..'
Un-counted amounts of wash elapsed, endless etchings have surfs out; scratched..
I see the glimpses I hear that noise, in awe; I observe the power and poise,
Atlantic grey-green, Indian serge, pacific hued, I need to re-visit & become re-clued
The saline reeks, there are nets of fish, tootling tugs, low tide rippling in meek.'
Memories crowds... Of golden sands..' Ice cream, picnic baskets; beer and bands..'
ocean's cobalt blue
waters whitecap 'on rocky shore..
ocean teams with life
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.