Sea and Sun

This poetry collection is something very special for me on many different levels. It includes a series of short poems I’ve written over the last year, all of which have special significance to me. 

Anyone who follows me on Twitter will know how much I love taking photos of both the sun and the sea. It does not matter how many times I hear the rush of the waves, see the blue haze and set foot on a sandy beach, I still feel the same thrill every time. It is something that has never left me from being a child and is a joy I now share with my husband.

The banks of the River Humber are another favourite spot, in particular a rugged little place called Paull.

In addition to my own poetry I am once again delighted to be joining forces with my friend and gifted poet Joe Praks. Joe writes some delightful poetry about the sun, but I know that he also has an affinity with the sea. It seemed like the natural thing to do to combine our poetry and spread the joy further. I really hope you will enjoy what we have to share.

The first poem is based around the many happy hours I spent with my sons at Paull when they were small. They were always drawn towards climbing an old sycamore tree in the woodland there with a rope swing attached, often frightening me to death! Every time I see that tree I remember those days. The poem below is dedicated to my oldest son.

There was something about

The sycamore tree

That cast a spell on you.

You climbed each branch

Shouting excitedly,

Immersed in a world

Where you were

Invincible,

Untouchable,

Unstoppable,

And as I soaked up

Your gleeful cries

I was lost

In your world too.

The next poem is dedicated to my youngest son. He was only very small when we took him to the beach for the first time and I remember watching him gingerly walking towards the sea with pebbles in his hand, copying his older brother. The look of delight on his face when he threw the pebbles in the water is something that will stay with me forever.

You walked across

The lonely beach

Small pebbles

In your hand.

I didn’t take

My eyes off you,

Your footprints

In the sand.

You reached

The foaming

Water’s edge,

Threw pebbles

Out to sea

And attached

To every ripple

Was a precious

Memory.

 

I wrote the next poem for my husband on his birthday this year, to celebrate our love of the sea.

Here is a small selection of sea-inspired poems with accompanying images.

Like waves

Washing over

Broken glass

Time smoothes

Jagged edges.

Dance with the waves

Caressing the shore

Lose yourself

In the moment.

 

Meandering channels

Carve out a path

Like footprints

In the sand.

 

Through rushing waves

I heard you say

“Please tell me

You understand.”

 

Amidst pale blue sky

And swirling mist

Forgiveness

Circled around.

 

The onshore breeze

May dry my tears,

Understanding brings

Peace of mind.

 

Scatter your worries

Like dandelion clocks in

Mighty crashing waves.

With the whisper of the wind

And the chuckle of the waves

And the breath of the wind

Blowing kisses on your face,

With the ever changing sky

Softly mirrored in the sea

There is no such place

As an empty beach.

 

The next four poems are by Joe Praks. If you would like to read more of Joe’s work he can be found on Twitter and Instagram. 

There’s always a heart

Protecting us from a storm

Calming our anger

Soothing our tears

Spreading the light

Like a wee, little Sun.

Whispering to our ears

When we think we’re alone,

When we’re weak to go on

It is love that saves us

Everything will be better

I promise,

Just carry on…

 

Colourful sunset

The Sun went low

The light went down

I’m just standing silently

Admiring the scene

This theatre of universe

Little by little getting nigh

On a memory of your beauty

On a reminder of the curve

Of your smile.

It’s you, my Sun

To you I look up

When I’m down

It’s you, just you

And only you again

You are my very first thought and

Your light is my very last hope

Thanks to you I feel

I’m forever changed

I’ll never feel the same

Just holding a memory of you closer

Just to whisper your name. 

 

My Sun is a true healer

Giving her light to my heart

My Sun is a great painter

Painting the sky with the colours

Of her beauty to please my eyes.

My Sun is my true and only love

And I’m here for her to know

She means heaven to me

She sets me on a road to paradise

My Sun sets me free.

 

All of the remaining poems were written by me and were inspired by sunsets over the River Humber.

 

It must be my

Imagination

Playing tricks

Through strands of light

Embers of

Once fiery hope

Fading into

Shades of night.

 

You feel so close

I hear your voice

Then dreams fuse

Into reality

When I realise

All I can hear

Is the whisper

Of the twilight breeze.

 

Mesmerising sunbeams

Find your way

Through my dreams

Until the dark clouds

Dissolve into

Memories of tears.

 

Another sunset

But still, unanswered questions

Gold rays tinged with blue.

 

Emerging from

A matte grey sky

You cast

A silver glow,

Reflections of your

Restorative power

Shimmer in

The water below.

Many thanks for reading. If you would like to see more of the photographs and poetry I share on Twitter please do come and join me through the link below.

   Jill Webb Words