a shipwrecked waterway

· by · in free verse, poetry. ·


Like counting pebbles,
polished smooth – the ocean waves,
are still my beating heart.
As granite turns to dust,
my liver-spots and blood
are moonless nights.

Sublime, this siege of time,
of brittle bones and failing flesh,
a lighthouse calling
for a shipwrecked waterway,
for the softness of the sand
for a dreamless sleep.

Shipwreck by Theodore Gericault

Shipwreck by Theodore Gericault


Karin wants us to ponder the concept of time at toads, and in my head I saw the image of time as the grinder slowly turning everything to sand. I’m also linking up to Poetry Pantry.
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August 16, 2015

42 responses to “a shipwrecked waterway”

  1. Every image carries its own weight in this poem, Bjorn. I am quite blown away by the way you have expressed the persistence of time. This is impressive work.

  2. Few look at the sand they walk on and think how eons of time have created it wearing it away. Yet here now man seems to be destroying the earth in but a few years.

  5. I would not mind counting time to the ocean waves. That is a much more natural rhythm than what we do.Erosion, deposition – sedimentation. Some of that sand is probably still from the dawn of time. Time is something we do not fight, but go with easy.

  6. I admire the perspective of time as lighthouse calling for a shipwrecked waterway and for dreamless sleep ~ Lovely response Bjorn ~

  8. “As granite turns to dust”… This reads like a reminder: time will have its say, and that’s all right. I found myself whispering this poem… I know a shipwreck says nothing of peace, but the tone, the progression of the words, the last line… speak (to me) of ends that are looked at in the eye.

  10. The call of the lighthouse is always strong, but oftentimes it seems they cannot deter shipwrecks. I wonder if a dreamless sleep is a positive or a negative. I’d think of it as a ‘positive.’

  13. Hey Bjorn–this is really a very benevolent view of time–it works very well in its kind of directness. I especially love the liver spots. Thanks for participating. k.

  17. Ah, the power of the waves in rhythm with the heart..a light beckons through a tunnel of darkness..in a sleepless night..broken rocks become smooth through time and yes I imagine they grind down to sand at some point.

  20. “dreamless sleep” jumped out at me, the stillness of this image is eerie
    have a nice Sunday; im happy you dropped in at my Sunday Lime

    much love…

  21. There is something simultaneously very raw and soothing about this response. I like the lighthouse calling and the smoothness of the sand.

  25. You make age and decay sound so lovely, Bjorn. Especially S2, sounds just gorgeous.

    “Sublime, this siege of time,
    of brittle bones and failing flesh,…”

  26. The very first line has my attention…can you imagine, that is your job, counting pebbles, the waves my beating heart, you associate man with mountain, granite to dust, and it is all moonless nights, a very wonderful piece!

  27. Dreamless sleep / softness of sand have double meanings. I am leaning to the darker tone.

    The lighthouse, most of the times seeves as the guardian angel

  31. One would think sand is a separate form from rocks until it is realized it is formed out of rocks when given time – a long long time!

    Hank.

  34. I, too, see time as grinding down – as opposed to building up … at least in any one life. Though, I think most people believe that evolution works for the better – in the whole scheme of things – and if one accepts that then time, in fact, does build up – or at least, improves on what was previously there. You do send my mind a-jingling, Björn. Smiles

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