The Intruder

The wind blew out and the sea rolled in

By the cliffs and the curving beach,

A lonely stretch, they were kith and kin

And had never heard human speech,

A cottage grew by the shore one day

There were figures of surly men,

The sea had muttered, ‘They’re in my bay,’

And the wind replied, ‘Amen!’

 

The men had left but the cottage stayed

Like a wound to the ocean’s pride,

It split the wind at the valley floor

As it passed there, either side,

The sea said ‘blow it away my friend,

For it grieves my heart to see,

The works of man where I lap the sand,’

And the wind said, ‘Leave it to me!’

 

It soughed and soared at the eventime

And it scored with sand from the beach,

It struggled to topple the chimney pots

As it surged at one and each,

It lost its puff as the sun came up

When the tide was on the ebb,

‘I couldn’t move it a jot,’ it sighed,

‘And the roof, it felt like lead.’

 

‘We’ll wait for the winter tides,’ my friend,

‘I’ll surge and wash it away,

I’ll undermine its foundations, then

I’ll sweep it out in the bay.’

But then a flickering candle lit

From a window, facing the shore,

‘There’s something a-move, for a shadow flit

Last night through the cottage door!’

 

The sea had grumbled, ‘We’ll wait and see

What lingers there in the light,’

The wind peered in at the window pane

And sighed at the wondrous sight,

‘A creature there with its golden hair

And its eyes, a deep sea blue,

That set me quivering in their stare,

So what will they do to you?’

 

The morning saw at the cottage door

A woman all dressed in white,

She wandered along the empty shore

And the sea had gulped, ‘You’re right!’

He lapped his waters around her feet

As she waded in for a swim,

And said to the wind, ‘She’s warm and sweet,

And it’s sad, but you can’t come in!’

 

Back on the beach, a gentle breeze

Had whispered the woman dry,

Then flitted, scurrying out to sea,

‘You’ve changed your tune, but why?’

‘I think we needed that cottage there,

In reflection, let it stand.’

The wind just capered along the shore

As the door of the cottage slammed.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Woody]

I always try to find something to say different from what the other reviewers comment. I can't but repeat that the rhyme and the pace are perfect. smooth narration and I like the personification.
we may be quick to judge and don't like someone from first glance but then, such is human nature, we change our mind and come to appreciate someone/something for what they really are.

[Claire in VA]

What a lovely piece to read during
(our) beach season!
It's impeccable, David.
You know I love your
rhythm and rhyme.
I also enjoyed the use
of personification in
this one.
~~Claire

[Harmony Babin]

It's amazing. I can just visualize everything. Another breath taker! Haha (:

[TPK Stories]

Another fine tale David! Leaves one to imagine!

[Daniel Sala]

I just love this poem, couldn't go into deep analysis, but needn't, it speaks for itself, what a beautiful idea of the wind and sea and the house in their space.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I think this is lovely. It speaks to the fear of prejudice and change, while recognizing the harmony that can be obtained when we fully understand one another. The way in which this was written, the sea and wind come to love what they feared the most. Very nice!

[Marie]

She must have been one of the old goddesses, with power over the wind and the sea...

[Bob Sherunkle]

David that was fantastic.Great air of anticipation throughout.I would love to be able to write something that builds atmosphere so easily.

[emmajoy]

'He lapped his waters around her feet ~ As she waded in for a swim, ~ And said to the wind, ‘She’s warm and sweet, ~ And it’s sad, but you can’t come in!’

As ever and always, your meter's absolutely first class, but in no way forced. Don't know how you do it -except that you're an expert! There's such a weatherly mood to this, urgent yet never truly frightening - perhaps coz the musical sound of it heralds that glorious ending. It's wonderful, David, your woman's like a heroic mermaid who's found an earthly haven. Wonderful..