The Waves
It’s great to move.
I never tire of it.
And to rush up
and throw yourself
onto the coarse sand,
delightful.
And the slide back,
merging with my brothers,
that divine feeling
I always feel.
That swirling and tumbling,
watching the air bubbles rise.
They tickle.
Then we gather
together again
to wash over
the sandcastles,
to pull the sand down,
tumbling each grain
a little more smooth.
They want to be round
like the Earth.
So we do
the best we can.
And we free our brothers
trapped in the moats.
I hate being there.
We rush back home,
laughing.
High tide,
low tide,
it doesn’t matter.
There’s always
something fun
to do.
When you’re
not tied down.
“According to the waves”
According to the waves
sand castles are not allowed to stand.
They come rushing up
teasing
then falling back
whispering as they go
maybe next time.
And come back they do.
Sometimes near, sometimes far.
They gather strength
to strike again
but are undermined
by their brothers
rushing back to sea.
Always uphill,
they climb up the beach,
then the slide back,
tumbling rocks and broken shells.
But eventually
they make it all the way.
They pour over the walls,
overflow the moats,
and bring the sand castles
down, dragging them seaward,
smoothing rough human
edges away.
Sand castles,
according to the waves,
are not allowed
to stand.
So much better
to run uphill
and then slide home.
/ / /
“The Waves” was written in response to two prompts from We Write Poems: I hear voices and Revisionists unite. “According to the waves” is a poem I decided to revise, from last year’s Poem-a-Day Challenge in April, but I was stuck on how to approach it. I still think it needs work, but decided to write a new poem from the perspective of the waves themselves.
I enjoyed these contrasting pieces, how one group is united and the other works against each other.
Tilly, thanks. I think the new one adds something to the older one.
Richard
love the ocean and listening to and watching the waves roll in and out. thank you for this lighthearted The Waves which gives a voice to their intent!!
Joss, thank you. I’m glad you liked it. It was a fun one to write, from that perspective.
Richard
What a delight! I love this idea!
Annell, thanks. Glad you like it.
Richard
I agree a delight to read, Richard.
Pamela
Pamela, thanks. It was fun to write, so I’m glad to hear it’s a good read.
Richard
Delightful, Richard. We may have to change your name to Neptune, you who would speak for the waves. It’s a lovely voice you use, and amazingly original.
Mike, thank you. I do write about water a lot; maybe that should be the theme for the November chapbook challenge. Thanks to Viv for the idea; using a different voice was a lot of fun here.
Richard
I love the simplicity of the revised, the whole rhythm of the play is lovely. It’s exactly like it is.
Irene, thank you. I agree, the simplicity of the waves talking rather than being described by someone else gives the whole poem a better rhythm, which is what the original is lacking, I think.
Richard
This is a great revision, Richard. The first piece is my favorite of the two. Thank you for bringing me the ocean this morning.
Brenda, thank you. I agree; I think it’s a much better poem.
Richard