A Tempest Off Portishead

Cherry

By marandina

Mon, 21 Feb 2022
  • 1992 reads
15 comments
 

Audio version at https://soundcloud.com/user-62051685/a-tempest-off-portishead-mp3

 

A Tempest Off Portishead

 

Thunder cracks a sombre sky,

tendrils of lightening splinter

like panes of shattered glass,

savage sea waking, stirring,

winds whipping spume, spittle,

as rolling, wild waves crash

against desolate harbour walls,

spilling over barriers onto land.

Silent, solitary egret observes,

sitting perched on mossy rocks,

its throne of Canute, a metaphor

made from basalt and brine.

A tempest to cleanse this earth

and purge waters of detritus,

storm soon lost, tears in rain,

dissipate to ether - elemental ghost.

 

Picture is my own from 2018 in Portishead – me and my beloved Skye Woofer

Certificate U
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Very vivid. Interesting the egret noticed, and its stabitily to watch! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Rhiannon. Yes, birds can be resilient little things. Hoping you are well. Paul

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You've captured every aspect of the storm Paul, so wild and almost whips you off your feet. I love the photo of you and your dog too, what a cool name you gave Skye Woofer, just love it.

I have many fond memories of Portishead, especially as a child having picnics with mum and dad. Also in my teenage years swimming in the outdoor pool. 

Very much enjoyed reading.

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading it, Jenny. Well it's just "Skye" with woofer added as a statement of the obvious. Yes, a part of the world I adore and I nearly moved to Portishead a few years back. Thanks again. Paul x

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Fabulous, and love how it ends. :)

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Rachel. Yes, all my favourite things: a storm, my dog and Portishead. Yes, I know...

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thank you for the cherries, ABC Eds. Genuinely appreciated. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Very nice IP interpretation - and you both look suitably storm-drenched in the pic!

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, insert. Yes, we were!

 

Submitted by celticman on

something elemental about the weather (obviously). you capture it well. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading it, CM. Always great to have you appear in the comments :)

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

You've captured the violence of a storm, the cleansing effect and resulting sense of something changed, a new beginning, a metaphor for so much. I love 'winds whipping spume' and the solitary egret - creepy how they take off and silently fly. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading it, Jane. Yes, I wanted to capture sea birds amongst a storm. It's a sideshow in itself the way they just carry on unflustered. Thanks for the kind comments. Paul :)

 

Submitted by jeand on

Gosh Paul, that is so beautiful. I love your choice of words.

Jean Day

Submitted by marandina on

Oh thank you for reading it, Jean. Hoping you are well. Paul