Saturday 13 October 2012

Fear



brush of cold wind 
sapping my skin, dry of wine
into wrinkled flesh, sunken cheeks 

of black crow in dwindling sunset,  
amber eyes glint - sharpened blade - 
on driftwood, an oil lamp waiting 

for striking match to burn 
every autumn leaf falling,  
until nothing but grey sky and ash linger

on boat empty of voices - 
your charcoal pelt, slippery and wet 
of deadly things 

pressing down my chest,
i cry out your name - 
on dry throat and swallowed tide - 
above me you are

all the verses I want to write
but your fearless lips are drowning 
me, 
slowly - 
bitter black sea     


   


Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Poetics - Poeticaphobia - hosted by Stuart McPherson ~ 
I have a fear of falling and drowning in the open sea.
Shared with Poets United:  Poetry Pantry
picture credit:  here

44 comments:

  1. There is a fear of dealing/living with the fearless. Trying to decipher if fearlessness is confidence or something to actually fear. Made me think of a lot. Great write.

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    1. That is a lovely insight ~ Thanks for the visit ~

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  2. above me you are

    all the verses I want to write
    but your fearless lips are drowning
    me,
    slowly - nice...love that section with your poem....very real fears as well grace...often the dreams or nightmares of something happening to my kids has to do with them falling....drowning would be such a terrible way to go to...oy...all too real...

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    1. Thank you Brian ~ It's one of my nightmares ~

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  3. I love this, the black enclosing sea... But I'm kinda scared to take the bath I was planning tonight now... ;)

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    1. Thank you ~ I don't fear the bath but the cold and icy water ~

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  4. to describe the sea as a charcoal pelt...your descriptors in this are absolutely on point! and as such you put your sentiment across so well, and with great personalisation... I love the sea...but its vastness, its weight scares the bejeesus out of me

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    1. You got my sentiments ~ Thanks for the lovely prompt Stu ~

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  5. above me you are

    all the verses I want to write
    but your fearless lips are drowning
    me

    Such great lines that jumped out for me, this is a poem with crackle, loved it and the overwhelming dark sea was a great image.

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  6. Ooh... powerful ending... drowning would be horrible.

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  7. Drowning seems such a lonely way to die, whether in seas or sorrow.
    You painted this picture well, grace.
    Happy weekend!
    ~rick

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  8. Drowning in the sea would be such a painful way to die. I have had this fear sometimes too!

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  9. EVERYTHING about this.

    wonderful. simply.

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  10. extremely atmospheric, Heaven! Loved the images in it and the metaphor!

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  11. kind of has an 'end time' feel to it... really liked it. very dark, very good.

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  12. I love the same lines as everyone has picked out. Very real fear too Grace. Hopefully you won't ever have to go out on open sea :)

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  13. Oh that is scary, drowning in the ocean or in love are two scary prospects. When I was a kid I had a terrible fear of being trapped in a car that was sinking in the river. To a point I still have that fear, not sure where it came from but that's what I think of when drowning.

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  14. Very stark and vivid phrasing here, and the sea seems more than just water, a malevolent, living force--or maybe just an uncaring one. I also would rather stand on the shore and look at the waves than be anywhere near the ocean deeps. Who knows what's down there?

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  15. Drowning would really suck, just floating there strat out of luck. Hope the sea never comes calling, if so take your own inflatable boat incase of falling.

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  16. So interesting to think of the lips of the sea swallowing - like that - and the dark pelt like a live being. Well done. k.

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  17. Vivid and deeply visceral. 'For striking match to burn every Autumn
    leaf falling' - now that's a breath-taking line.

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  18. Drowning...I came so close. I can still remember being pulled up from the bottom of the pool. Such a palpable feeling of fear in this one. great write Grace!

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  19. there's such beauty in the sea but also immense power and i always feel small.. i can understand that fear

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  20. Stanzas 4 and 6 are my favorites. Beautiful work, Grace.

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  21. i hope you don't live close to an ocean! great take on the prompt, Heaven!

    have a lovely Sunday!

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  22. above me you are all the verses I want to write...fantastic. Vastness is deadly attractive and plain deadly as well..thanks

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  23. The sea gives and the the sea takes so this fear of waves pulling away the light a grounded one

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  24. Fear of drowning picturesquely drawn in your words.
    I especially loved the last stanza! :)

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  25. what a beautiful picture you're painted today... really enjoy the read... odd fear could be glamorous, but you've done that

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  26. When I'm by the ocean, the sight of it's enormous size touches a fear within me. I guess it's because it has so much power. Love your poem. It really captures your 'respect' for the ocean.

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  27. What a powerful write. You've tapped into something so primordial, visceral. Wow!

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  28. This really touched me... you made the feelings become visceral...

    all the verses I want to write
    but your fearless lips are drowning
    me,
    slowly -
    bitter black sea

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  29. i especially loved the image of "boat empty of voices."very effectively crafted.

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  30. This is one of your best - fantastic images, and mood. Takes the reader deep, just like the waves.

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  31. Really fantastic imagery as usual and a killer ending ;-)

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  32. You need not have told us your fear... the piece mad it very clear. Well done.

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  33. So many wonderful images! I love on a boat empty of voices, very chilling--I fear drowning too. You captured this quite well.

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  34. The imagery was absolutely beautiful ... Wonderful piece...

    Peace and love
    1Manview ...

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  35. Wonderful imagery Heaven! I love the sea. It has a lot of fascination to me. I had many exploits relating to the sea in my other blog, birdhouse! Nicely!

    Hank

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  36. fear is deeply entrenched in your words...

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  37. I agree with Shadow....'phobia' is deeply entrenched in every line--the concluding part left me awestruck! Beautiful..

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  38. I'm always in awe of your way with metaphor.

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  39. A real fear of that most powerful pressure itself; the sea bearing down...A frightening thought...

    Eileen

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  40. You are fearless in your tone of writing.

    Summons up the prick of wine, and sea.

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Thanks for your visit and comments ~ I appreciate them ~