Shoreline Poem by Seamus O' Brian
Shoreline
did the tips of fingers
seek each other and find
hesitating breath touch
of hope and fear and brine
as the keel of
everything known
and past
lurched and heaved
underneath
as the twinkle-pricked
blackness of that alien shore
pushed back the tide
of a world left behind:
the timbre of her voice
shaped softly by the planks
laid by grand-da's
calloused hand and steadfast eye;
the tang of rain-slashed peat
intercoursing a fragrance
of stone-fired loaves;
a peal of laughter, a sliver
of her swirl, through the
storm-jammed door
and he couldn't get through
quick ena'.
the black under his nails
same as the muck of the bog
mound of freshly turned earth
same length as the bassinet
an' it might ha' been the crest of the sea
or a thrust of the wound
that drove them agin' the rail
on the shoreline of a world unknown
where the tips of their fingers
touched hope and fear and brine.
just read this again, neal, and this time, with the promise the shore and incoming waves suggests, made me think of my poem " at twenty years" written to my wife shortly after our twentieth anniversary. (in december we passed out forty-third.) -glen
Hello, Glen! So good to hear from you, my friend. I will have to pop over and look that one up. And congratulations on 43- that is a wonderful accomplishment!
i like this, neal, relating it to what i know of why the irish came to america. i think of a series we're watching about the building of the transcontinental railroad and the irish who helped build it, of frank mccourt and his books angela's ashes and 'tis, and of a fine movie with the simple title brooklyn which mirrors in part my half-sister's experience (she's a quarter irish) . then of my immigrant grandparents, jews escaping persecution from the pale at the turn of the century. -glen
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/29/2024 3:50:39 AM # 1.0.0.1119
You have such an original, strong, and vibrant voice, Seamus. You have a palette of words that you do not hesitate to use in startling but oh so right ways to get the emotions and the depth of your poems across to your readers. This poem is yet another stunning write! Thank you for posting them to light our way to writing better.10 million 10's would not be enough! !
Thank you, dear Susan! It is always such a delight to see your gracious comments and insights. I just wish I had more time to more involved in this community. All the best, my dear.!