Returning to the Sea

Spiritual and mortal awareness

I dipped a cup of water,

From the edge of endless sea.

Such ocean I will know as God,

While the cup resembles me.

Within the cup are particles,

Of substance undefined;

Yet sole in their uniqueness,

And clearly unrefined.

I’ll view such things as trials,

Or memories distilled,

That oft obscure such clarity

In practice of my will.

 

The sand I’ll place this cup upon,

Shall be of life, surround--

Ever-changing with the wind,

Forms ripples on this ground.

Compressing cup into the soft,

Creates stability;

But grounded to such fickle sand,

Defers my destiny.

So lightly I will plant this cup,

On this shore and unafraid;

And welcome curious tidal reach,

With Spirit’s hand in wave.

 

The sun that rises, east to west,

Is incessant pass of time;

Intense or distant is its charm,

And never will be mine.

As it speeds its warmth and bright,

Across my vessel, waits;

Such heat will pare my still design,

And I’ll evaporate.

Yet, choice in my possession,

To choose a time, that when,

I’m left with only particles,

I may dip my cup again.

 

There’s comfort in the knowledge,

Of life upon this shore;

Where time may find me self-contained,

And needing nothing more.

Some winds deposit challenges,

For some I’m unprepared;

Appending my complexity,

To those I choose to share.

 

One day the sands will surely shift,

And toppled I will be;

Spilling freely, I’ll reach out,

Returning to the Sea.

Reviews

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

A most wonderful philosophcial write that is spoken right truthfully from the heart of Man as that sand that is eve shifting, ever falling into the sea of life, and death ... Paramount in its complexity and brutally utter simplicity ...

Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham

[Ravyne Hawke]

Tate shared your poem with me and I am so grateful that he did. Your words are so elegantly written, your rhyme so perfect that I forgot I was reading a rhyming poem. To say that I am in awe would not do this justice, there just aren't enough words. The last stanza is so beautiful and invokes such wonderful imagery.

[carol burgess romance]

Someday my ashes will be scattered on the shore and I find your words of great comfort....

[GTVile]

You don't need me to tell you this is excellent, but I will anyway. I am envious of your ability to weave words into such an elegant tapestry. You are by far the best poet I have seen on this site.

[Tate Morgan]

your description of life as it is feels so intensely personal and spot on

[emmajoy]

' One day the sands will surely shift, ~ And toppled I will be; ~ Spilling freely, I’ll reach out, ~ Returning to the Sea. '

Every stanza creates a finely placed belief, a wish for more of the same.

The meaning of your poem would have been the same had you put the last stanza first - the absolute union of emotions terrestrial and celestial .. nothing better.

Wonderfully deep, meaningful words.

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

I do find this very spiritual and steeped in Nature .. they do go together for me, Nature and spirituality.Wonderful metaphors. Cup of sea-water upon sand will surely one day topple.
Truly a moving poem.

Chloe

[Peter Joseph Swanson]

Beautiful!