Fathoms Above

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By Turlough

Wed, 12 Feb 2025
  • 509 reads
26 comments
 

 

Fathoms Above

 

This icy day of dagger wind

I scan the squally sea above

Where waves and whales and sailing ships

Collide and slide in tangled whirls

With herring gulls, white horses' manes

‘til the sea I saw is seen no more

Just gnarled contortions of my mind

White and black erupt with grey

Twist and spout and swoop and sprout

And turn about to start again

My thoughtscape ebbs

Wild figments flow

Dreams like driftwood washed ashore

From the pelagic cumulonimbus realm

Where I dipped a single frozen toe 

 

Image:

My own photograph of the sort of clouds that get your imagination going ten to the dozen.

Certificate 12
Poem
Poetry in Commotion
Surreal

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

It's always nice to dip our toe(s) in somethng new. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Aye, there's no business like toe business, as any retired chiropodist will tell you.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I love how the clouds have released the poet in you Turlough. Those mysterious scenes you've created in your imagination shine through, and draw the reader in like a magnet.

Adore the image too, what amazing colours.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

It's too cold to go out today Jenny so I just sat in the chair by the window and nature did the rest.

Many thanks for your kind words.

Turlough

Submitted by Turlough on

to the giver of the cherries.

They always bring a smile to my face.

Turlough

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I liked 'the squally sea above' and 'the pelagic cumulonimbus realm' !

It reminded me of one of mine from a little while ago:

https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/pareidolia

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I struggle a bit writing poetry Rhiannon, but I like it when the imagination is allowed to run wild.

I enjoyed your poem. It reminded me a bit of  From a Railway Carriage, by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Many thanks for your kind comment.

Turlough

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Oh, and I also liked the title very much! Rh

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Brilliant. Love it. It's our Pick of the Day. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Oh that's great news and a great surprise 1MT. Thank you very, very much indeed.

Turlough

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is wonderful turlough. Nothing like getting lost in the clouds. Very well deserved golden cherries!

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thank you IPFN. That's very nice to hear as I wasn't really sure about posting it. Poetry sometimes makes me nervous!

Turlough

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I love the movement this!

"Where waves and whales and sailing ships

Collide and slide in tangled whirls

With herring gulls, white horses' manes

‘til the sea I saw is seen no more"

all your sounds and the rhythm are brilliant. Some of my favourite poems on here are about clouds :0)

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Aww, thanks Di. 

Turlough

Submitted by marandina on

"..Dreams like driftwood washed ashore

From the pelagic cumulonimbus realm.."

Some great lines in this. My kinda poem. One to get lost in (probably both writing and reading)

Imagery and enigma.

[Really enjoyed both of your latest diary entries too]

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thanks very much Paul, for the reading of and the commenting upon. 

On cold days like yestereday the dreams like driftwood could possibly be described as autobiographical.

 

Turlough

Submitted by D G Moody on

If this was a struggle, can I have some of it! But yes, what a delight to read; how you've given the seas surge in your vivid imagery; and the last two lines - Bonzer Cobber!! Golden Cherries well deserved!

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Turlough on

Ah, you're a great man for the kind comments Dougie. Thank you very much indeed. 

Turlough

Submitted by seashore on

...and you doubt your skill as a poet?? Don't ever do that again Terry, this is simply brilliant x

Submitted by Turlough on

Thank you very much our Coral. I really appreciate that. x

Turlough

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Poem of the Week - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Oooooooooooh... thank you IPFN. That's brilliant news.

Turlough

Submitted by Kris on

Fantastic *

I read through some of your stuff... but.... I've never seen anything like this*

(unless I missed it)........

Congrats... Those Golden Cherries + Star Book... are for sure NOT dreams like drift wood washing ashore..... thats the real deal yes & well deserved !

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thank you Kris.

It's very kind of you to pay such a compliment.

Blushing slightly...

Turlough

Submitted by jennifer on

The rhythm of the poem itself moves like the sea.

And the language!

Love this one! So evocative! I'm there!

J x

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Many, many thanks to you Jennifer. 

Turlough