I am small in the sea, pushed around
by waves that care not for any grain of sand
or stuff that floats in old men’s heads.
Arms held wide and high, that reach and cling
like a child to a parent when things get rough,
when routines fail and muscles waste.
I hesitate, recoil, cower; skin so thin
these cold water blades could spill these guts
for waiting gulls and wash away this name.
I am caught like the sun, falling
and hoping to rise again, the horizon watched
from a base of arched feet, soft soles and toes
exposed to the hidden sharpness of shadows.
And though these whispered sea breezes,
with caresses would show the way,
for that bastard time waits not for me,
until I learn to surrender, immerse this body,
allow these legs to float and lay back this head,
could I ever take in the whole of the sky?
Jonathan Humble is a teacher in Cumbria. His poetry has been published by The Big Issue In The North, Poems For Freedom, Ink Sweat & Tears, Obsessed With Pipework, Riggwelter, Atrium, Amaryllis, Zoomorphic, Fairacre Press and has been read on BBC Radio. His short stories and poems for children have been published in Poetry Roundabout, The Caterpillar and Stew Magazine. Twitter: @JonathanHumble
March 17, 2018 at 10:49 am
Cheers Amee. Who does the excellent photographs on the site?
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March 17, 2018 at 11:18 am
I’m a photographer, so I’ve been using my own photos & images for all of the uncredited featured images during my month as guest editor. But each editor is responsible for providing and choosing their own images – I only do the photos for the work I post.
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March 17, 2018 at 12:15 pm
They are excellent and complement the poems perfectly 🙂
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March 17, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Thanks! Glad you like them.
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March 17, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Reblogged this on Jonathan Humble's Stuff … a poetry blog.
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March 17, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Extraordinary!
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March 21, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Wonderful. The photo as well.
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