Day before a birthday

Gold cherry

By Di_Hard

Fri, 17 Dec 2021
  • 3197 reads
23 comments
 

 

It had cheered us up, before.

We called it The Secret Beach

because always empty,

small, down old stairs from the road.

That day, we were both scared

because something was about to come out. 

One of us could walk away,

the other, holding it inside.

 

One of us was on the phone -

giving the impression of being talked

into walking into a trap.

The other stared at the sea coming in,

the waves'  lapping the most gentle

sound heard for a long time. Unstoppable,

erroding time. Wash Wash Wash

Accept like the rounded rocks

become soft as sand

 

motherhood.

Snowflakes fell, like kisses.

The phonecall ended.

 

New Year's day, the secret

was warm in our arms

 

after reading https://www.abctales.com/story/mcmanaman/chri

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Loved this one!

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou for the cherries! Am very glad you liked it, I got up ready to delete it because thought it was fuzzy

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

I love the feeling of going from the uncertainty and sense of cold on the beach to the warmth at  the end. Also - the wash wash wash and eroding and soft as sand - with a feeling of patience and acceptance. Liked it a lot.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much Catherine for giving the time to read and leave your lovely comment, you must be so busy! If there is anything good about this it will have rubbed off from reading all your genius poems in your brilliant book!

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

Thank you very much! But don't underestimate yourself! Your poems are always very good and you have your own lovely style. As for me being busy - well, I've just finished work for the holidays as I'm term time only. I've blocked my mind to it and am determined to read a book, read on ABCtales, do some writing. When January comes I will be sucked back into an impossible workload again! Tis the season to be really quite jolly.  

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou again! Hope you have a ginormously jolly holiday :0) and  do some more wonderful writing, and best luck with your book

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Something special about a deserted beach in winter. Some strong memories for you, a life-changing time and change. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Exactly right, Rhiannon, thankyou for being perceptive as always :0)

 

Submitted by Mark Heathcote on

A lovely write well-written thanks for sharing this with us.

Mark Heathcote

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much Mark, that is really kind, much appreciated

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

An interesting read Di.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou Jenny, am very glad you found it interesting, never sure with memories like this if they will relate to anyone else or just be too personal

 

Submitted by rjnewlyn on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day! Please share/retweet if you like it

Picture Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58839032

(Di – the picture has been added for publicity purposes. Please feel free to change or remove.)

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much! Was ABSOLUTELY NOT EXPECTING  that :0) Nearly deleted it :0)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

This is absolutely beautiful, Di. I was right there on that beach with them. And those final couple of lines...I've got something in my eye. 

Marvellous Pick of the Day.

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much Airy :0) Had been there for ages but reading Mcmanaman's wonderful poem just tipped it over the edge. Am so glad it worked for you

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Love this. The deserted beach, the slow rythm of the waves and the rythm of something held, pushing to get out. Soft but unforgiving. 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thanyou so much Jane! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Secret beaches are the most wonderful places and being by the sea in winter is always something to treasure as the chances of being alone are even greater. Your words bring the location and atmosphere to life perfectly and bring back memories of my own of such places.

Good on you Di and congratulations on the golden cherries.

Turlough

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou :0) Yes. It is not a big beach, when the tide is in there is just a metre of pebbles and when it is out it is mostly more pebbles with some sand in between then sea weed :0) It is kind of the understairs cupboard of the sea. But the pebbles and the rocks they have been carved out of are VERY  special, all sorts of colours and weird shapes, it is like a geological jewelery box spilling out, and the air always feels extra thick with light. Thankyou for reading and commenting

 

Submitted by marandina on

Those last 5 lines, in particular, are brilliant. Congrats on a well deserved POTD. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou Paul, that is very much appreciated, am very glad you liked it, was so surpised and happy to get POD as was wondering if it would be good enough for red cherries, so very grateful for the response