Polperro Harbor
The cry of gulls is the first sign you’re waking
along the Cornish coast. It’s been a good
four decades since I’ve risen with the sun
in England’s western borders, where the tide
fills each small harbor the Phoenicians knew,
as water fills a glass; but nothing since –
no sum of days, no journey, nothing felt
or reasoned – has erased that cry of gulls
from my capacious memory. My eyes
unfocus. In the harbor, every mast
begins the climb to vertical – the tide
has caught each hull. Gulls fleck the ozone-filled
blue air the dawn makes possible. I am
as young as dawn and gazing at the ocean
that rights each tilted boat, that rings the world.
Polperro Harbor
Hi John
They got around those Phoenicians! The sea righting a tilted boat was nicely resonant. I tend to think of the English Channel rather than the Atlantic along that coast, though I guess you wanted ozone/ocean. Similarly my mind goes to the Welsh Marches. I guess my mind is more parochial!
Enjoyed
Phil
They got around those Phoenicians! The sea righting a tilted boat was nicely resonant. I tend to think of the English Channel rather than the Atlantic along that coast, though I guess you wanted ozone/ocean. Similarly my mind goes to the Welsh Marches. I guess my mind is more parochial!
Enjoyed
Phil
Hi Phil,
Yup, Phoenicians! And they gave us the alphabet. I’m glad you liked the tilted boats – that’s how I remember Polperro, indeed much of the Cornish coast – and I having grown up in Kent tend to think of the Channel ending at Surrey. Certainly before Sussex!
The Marches are where the Marcher barons were, in my mind – not sure they were in Cornwall, but it is a kingdom’s edge. Were there barons with the Cornish to deal with? Inquiring minds wonder! In any case, I think you are quite right in your allocation of the Marches. Up north as well.
Cheers,
John
Yup, Phoenicians! And they gave us the alphabet. I’m glad you liked the tilted boats – that’s how I remember Polperro, indeed much of the Cornish coast – and I having grown up in Kent tend to think of the Channel ending at Surrey. Certainly before Sussex!
The Marches are where the Marcher barons were, in my mind – not sure they were in Cornwall, but it is a kingdom’s edge. Were there barons with the Cornish to deal with? Inquiring minds wonder! In any case, I think you are quite right in your allocation of the Marches. Up north as well.
Cheers,
John
-
ray miller
- Perspicacious Poster
- Posts: 7404
- Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:23 am
Very nice. I especially enjoyed the final line. Do you need to mention that the air is ozone-filled?
I'm out of faith and in my cups
I contemplate such bitter stuff.
I contemplate such bitter stuff.
Thanks for the thumbs-up, Ray! There's a bit of a web of alliteration there which no immediate erplacement satisfies, to my ear - filled and world, ozone and ocean. For me, it pulls the end together musically, and the meaning feels fine in the context.
CHeers,
John
CHeers,
John
Hi David,
GLad you liked the poem! Especially the ending.
SO, the Western March is evidently Cumberland and Westmoreland. I could write counties but it feels inelegant, or maybe shires. I've not found the word yet.
I'm trying borders.
CHeers,
John
GLad you liked the poem! Especially the ending.
SO, the Western March is evidently Cumberland and Westmoreland. I could write counties but it feels inelegant, or maybe shires. I've not found the word yet.
I'm trying borders.
CHeers,
John
