Sea and Sun

This poetry collection is something 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.

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 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 smooths
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. You can find me on both X and Instagram under @jillwebbwords for more of the same. Links are provided below.