Clam Digging

one of my most cherished childhood east coast memories.. clam digging in Narragansett RI or any number of secret southern New England clamming spots...

flowing water pools

into each newly dug hole

earthern musky smell

alien-familiar

speaking of subterranean mysteries

and deepkept secrets

unleashed one handful

one small shovelful at a time

toes squish and flex

deliciously into the slightly gritty muck

as i search for the elusive prize

wind whipping saltlicks

into my hair and coating my lips

sudden telltale bubbles surface

and i delve my eager hand

into the silken mud

hard round shell within my grasp

serrated edges tickling my palm

as i pull forth the sought after bounty

Reviews

[UponATyme]

I really like how this piece sounds out loud. There are a few examples of alliteration in there, but I think the jackpot is the use of the "s" sound. Like, I can actually feel it when you say "silken mud." It has good rhythm and the lines are all a good length, they work well together. The only thing I would say is that when you mention "toes squish and flex / deliciously into the slightly gritty muck" I don't know if "deliciously" is the right word to use. That brings up the sense of taste and it was a little off-putting to think of the muck as delicious. Maybe delightfully? All in all, great write.

[Star Wolf]

A fun and playful time at the beach. I could just see this scene in my mind as I read this. Delightful.

[Eagle Cruagh]

Favorite pastime;
Digging the great Gooeyduck of the
Washington Coast.

You bring back great memories as you
describe the bubbles, then the plunge
to grasp the clam before he digs down.
Then a great tub to boil them into clam
chowder.

Thanks for the memories.

Great poem about real life .

My rating ---- 100 %

------Eagle Cruagh

[anon]

wonderful write Jen, your imagery is magnificient, so vivid, and there's such an aura of mystery about this piece, makes me want to go back and read again...

[Jonathan Ballam]

I really enjoyed reading this piece. I loved the images you used. They were very vivid and eye-catching! Well done

[R J Askew]

This is delightful. There is great innocence about it and real excitement over the treasure hunt. Also people have been doing this for thousands of years. Could anyone be closer to nature than delving into the geological ooze, which may one day be a layer of stone, in search of a tasty morsel? We can feel the grittiness and taste the salt. You are great at evoking the senses when you write. Again it is a short but effective poem. You work fast and there are few strokes in your word pictures, but the spareness is stylistically solid and shows confidence. Lots of sassy words and clever metaphors can clog and slow things.

[Michael X]

Reading your poetry makes me feel as if i am reading a classical poem by the greats, and I do say
your vision is great and classic, the imagery explodes to soft life and the transporting effect
leaves one wandering the shoreline long after the poem is finished. The least thing I like, the
lack of punctuation and stanzas. Still, this is One of the best poems I have read, very brilliant.

[deeps]

This has a wonderful flow to it
I like this, it is an enjoyable read

[Sean M. Addams]

i really enjoyed reading this piece ... the imagery in this was done well and the flow was good too.. overall nice job on this... fav lines...sudden telltale bubbles surface

and i delve my eager hand

into the silken mud

hard round shell within my grasp

serrated edges tickling my palm

as i pull forth the sought after bounty