Lead the children to the waters’ edge,
let spirits that dwell there enchant,
sun glistening on star-filled eyes…..
teach the essence of dolphin breathing,
the presence of manna, how to question
roots and behold miracles of fish that fly
and colours that shimmer below the surface,
and sons that walk on water – there are stories
to be told by tides, whose rhythmic waves
follow a primal chant; the ocean’s whispers
reminders that survival is a game for the living
and that in death all return to its vast depths.
(Water Tales first appeared here in January 2017. I am submitting it here for dVerse’s Open Link Night hosted by Grace. I am also linking up with my weekly challenge: stillness.)
Wonderful poem! You have channeled Mary Oliver very well!
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Oh, have I? What high praise.
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definitely!!
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This is a beautiful poem and such depth and in particular at the end death and the vast depths of the ocean. Very life affirming but positive about dying.
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Thank you.
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Stories to be told by tides…so many. I really like the gentle rhythm of the words, too, like quiet waves lapping the shore. (K)
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Thanks K.
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Very New Age. Fun images and dreams. My son and I just talked about Manna, as he is reading Armstrong’s “A History of God”. For me, it is like “Yuan” (the title of my blog is Fields of Yuan).
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Thank you. I guess I am still influenced by New Age thinking. Immersed myself in 80’s and 90’s. I will check out your blog
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the rhythmic ocean chant, it does engender stillness, doesn’t it, the pull of large objects causing the waves to lap at us, pulling us back, VJ, this is calming and large. “the presence of manna’ – oh what gifts we have received in this blue world.
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We sure have. thanks Lona.
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This is an amazing piece of poetry, V.J. I think your closeness to the ocean could be inspiring you. 🙂
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The water is very inspiring, thanks Olga.
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Wonderful piece on the marvels and attractions of the Ocean VJ! It is a realm of fascination. I love being at and on the ocean – but I am fearful of going in the water. Too many strange things that live in there, things we humans have still never seen…
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Ha ha – I’m with you on that. What lurks beneath….
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I also see a darkness in the longing for the depths… but it’s a lovely tale with so many turns and tumbles in the waves.
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Thanks Björn, There is darkness, also.
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Nice description: “survival is a game for the living”
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Thanks, Frank.
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Not only a wonderful poem but the comments also contain magic. Lovely your poem inspired such beautiful articulate responses.
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Thank you. It is wonderful when a piece evokes such response
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I think its a testament to your artistry and depth of this piece.
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You are very kind.
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The ocean, where all life began and may possibly end, is what makes our planet blue and special, which you’ve encapsulated in your poem, V.J.: in the ‘essence of dolphin breathing’, the ‘miracles of fish that fly’, and the lines.
‘…there are stories
to be told by tides, whose rhythmic waves
follow a primal chant’.
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Thanks Kim
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the essence of dolphin breathing, a mystical enigma V.J – that is how it sounded from your brilliant phrase
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I think I read once that dolphins symbolize manna. Thanks.
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There’s a deep message here. Hope more and more listen.
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Thank you
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I really enjoyed this V.J. I appreciate your beautiful description of the power of the ocean and how it teaches us. 💕
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Thanks Christine. The ocean has such a draw. You are lucky to live where you do.
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I love its energy. We can all benefit from nature and all her gifts.
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We sure can!
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there is such beauty in leading your children to the water’s edge and teaching them while “sun glistening on star-filled eyes” what a treasure
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Thank you. The water has so much to tell us.
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I really enjoyed this .. I am a water person. So can really imagine the tales of ocean and it’s charms 🙂
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Thank you.
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“…survival is a game for the living / and that in death all return to its vast depths.” The joy of poetry comes when someone writes a universal truth that goes beyond the surface (pun not intended) meaning. We do indeed return to death’s vast depths, as fluid as the ocean and as unfathomable (okay, pun intended this time!). Awesome write.
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Thank you, Charley. High praise.
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Deserved.
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I would love to listen to those rhythmic waves
follow a primal chant. The circle of life and death is best illustrated by ocean’s tides and depths.
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Thanks Grace.
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A glorious poem V.J. and I especially liked your stanza
“and colours that shimmer below the surface,
and sons that walk on water – there are stories
to be told by tides, whose rhythmic waves”
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Thanks Ivor.
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The ocean is home, the starting point for we once amphibians; and there inside the womb, again immersed in saline, we grow, impatient for birth, for actual oxygen–anxious to perpetuate another life’s journey–loved your take on it all.
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Thanks Glenn. Love your response
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I love this. This is why I go to the ocean. To feel its stillness.
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So mesmerizing. Thanks for commenting.
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Love this especially; “the ocean’s whispers reminders that survival is a game for the living and that in death all return to its vast depths.” Something to think about! 💖💖
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Thank you.
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