Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Grimlett Island
they say in the inlet’s sandy shoals
a wet little island rides the tides
where legend recalls a man’s repose
deeper than where the ghost crabs hide
his ship with weather-stained canvas sails
tossed in the churn between withered lands
his orders snapped like his waistcoat’s tails
until heaved and marooned by all plotting hands
he swam to the island and paced twelve strides
drenched with showers of blowing spray
so high was the nighttime’s hungry tide
he dared not hope to see the day
but one morning stretched to two and more
and thirst began cracking his salty throat
he decided to dig until his fingers tore
and seams ripped open his decaying coat
down he lay as the waters flowed
seabirds soaring over his drowsing head
until rising seas made his hole erode
his two last achievements--buried and dead
(Inspired on the ferry ride today between Hatteras and Ocracoke Island.)
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8 comments:
Loved it! 100% perfect piece of iambic storytelling. If I go further it would be gushing so I will stop with what i said already.
Fantastic images. Wow!
"his decaying coat" was foretelling.
this is excellent Jason, you were certainly inspired by the trip!
fantastic images
=====
non voice projects
it must have been one unpleasant ride... but what a great product!
(after having read the walking man's comment i re-read and found the metric, too. wow.)
there are certain experiences that call for an old fashioned display.. aren't they? i mean rhyme and metric and balladistic tone and all...
Grim! Reminded me of a short story by Stephen King, where a guy gets marooned on an island.
By the by, I am trying out a new form of poetry for my blog. I have christened it Shocketry or Shocking Poetry. I would love it if you could check it out and honored if you do one yourself! :)
wishes
Scribblers Inc.
Walking Man, you don't gush often, so I take it as a very high compliment.
Shakespeare, thanks!
Lee, indeed. ;)
Geraldine, it's hard not to be inspired there.
Christina, much appreciated.
Szelsofa, it was pleasant, but I listen to those glimmers of images that scene give me. This was what I saw there.
Scribblers, thank you for the kind words! I will defintely come over to check out your site.
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