In the calm of the evening
walking on wet sand
the soft scratch of silica
caresses my naked feet
I lift my face skywards
tasting the salt-laden breeze
sharpened by thyme-scented air
filtering from hushed hillsides
As the sun slips into the ocean
bronze and crimson flares flash
across the rolling cobalt waves
soon swallowed into darkness
Resting on a sea-smoothed rock
my feet wetted with cool water
I flare a sulphurous match
touching it to the lantern’s wick
A pool of golden light
fills the darkness of my heart
as I remember the evenings
when you were still here.
Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #77 photo prompt.
Image credit: Andrew Morris @ Unsplash
The image shows a lantern sitting on the wet sand of a beach. There are fairy lights inside the lantern.
luna's on line 
Beautiful tender imagery, Chris! Can picture it perfectly. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Tom 🙂
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Nice touching poem Chris .. love the flow ..
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Thanks HS! I was hoping to capture the sense of place 🙂
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It is magical! You took us right there with you on that beach with your poignant memories. Thanks for being the first one to respond, once again.
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Thanks so much, Sadje! There’s something about a beach, even a beach in my imagination, that I find so very inspiring. 🙂
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I can read that in between the lines.
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Keep it alive and commented:
Reblog- First in response to WDYS # 77, a beautiful poem from Chris Hall. Enjoy
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Thanks for sharing, my friend – I really appreciate it 🙂
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It’s my pleasure
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O, I just love the textures and feelings in this, sigh.
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Thanks so much, Paul!
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Worth it.
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This is sublime Chris!💚
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Thanks so much, Cassa! I’ve been dipping into the anthology – just read Desert Succulents – loved it!
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Glad you are reading the anthology finally. I am so happy that you loved it..
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Emotions and imagery playing well together here Chris. As always another beautiful piece !!
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Thank you, Radhika, I’m touched by your lovely comment! 🙂
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Opening stanza, I was there…
Beautiful, Chris.
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Thanks, Denise! There’s something about walking on a beach that captures the imagination. 🙂
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Ahhhhh this is so beautiful Chris…the imagery and the emotions…inexplicable
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Thanks so much, Mich 🙂
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Oh my word, this is beautiful! I especially like the last stanza. 🥲🥰
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Thanks, Debra, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it! 🙂
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Beautiful x
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Thanks, Gary 🙂
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So very lovely and haunting.
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Thank you! 🙂
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How lovely, Chris! Unrelated question: Which is your best book to start with? They all sound great and I wanted your opinion!
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Thanks, Jacqui!
Now, best book to start with, that’s a good question! I’m a bit of a genre-hopper and all my books are different. ‘The Silver Locket’ is a mystery-paranormal-romance and an easy afternoon read; ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is an adventure-romance firmly rooted in 1980s Liverpool and ‘Following the Green Rabbit’ is an historical adventure story for ages 9-99 years. But I think you’ve already opted to read Song of the Sea Goddess for the M for magical realism of your A to Z genre reading challenge!
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That’s actually a good suggestion. I won’t get to M for a while but I will start with that book. Thanks, Chris.
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Wonderful Chris.
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Thanks, Di! 🙂
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🙂
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I love this poem!! I was right there on the beach with all of those physical sensations–and then that last stanza evoking a lost loved one.
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Thanks, Liz 🙂 The beach is one of my favourite places to visit and the words just flowed like soft sand…
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You’re welcome, Chris. The beach is one of my favorite places to visit as well.
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🙂
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This is so beautiful Chris.
Amazing poetry.
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Thanks so much, Jude 🙂
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Such a pleasure. 🍁
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All five senses activated here, Chris. One of my favourite pieces of yours. I can feel the sand between my toes!
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Thanks so much, Matthew! The senses were my starting point when I wrote this one 🙂
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Ah.. very nice, Chris. The feeling, the textures, the mood and the setting all work well together.
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Thanks, Tom 🙂
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Word to word beauty. Everything feels perfectly put in the right place here. Reads so effortlessly. Great design of this poem!
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What a lovely compliment, Benjamin! I’m touched 🙂
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It’s very deserving. Again: excellent work!
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🙂
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Evocative 🌸🌸
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Thank you, Sirishty 🙂
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It’s my pleasure😊
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[…] Chris Hall; Your light still shines […]
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Ah, so good to read your poetry again, Chris! I can sense the water reaching for my toes upon the damp sand. My heart can feel the warmth of that lantern light right now xxxxxx
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So pleased it spoke to your senses, Jean! 🙂
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