Two Footprints in the Sand

by D.   Jun 11, 2019


Pack your clothes,
but leave an ironed shirt
hung on the door,
you set sail at
sunrise; kiss
her good morning
but not goodbye.

When the sea
reaches the dock,
silver pooling
under the boardwalk,

you’ll hear how the
ocean has swallowed
better men,

and when the ship returns,
there may only be
few of them.

In the night,
to be cradled in swirling
tar

dotted with the light of
fading stars;
a storm comes.

From home,
she hears it growl in the
distance,

and trembles
as the rain taps the
windows.

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Latest Comments

  • 4 years ago

    by Poet on the Piano

    Reading this the first few times, I honestly didn't think you needed so many commas, as the way you placed and spaced the lines gave a natural pause. Like the third, fourth and fifth stanza I thought didn't need the commas, but that's completely my opinion! I feel like a pause is implied when you skip a line. There's a tenderness in this, of the worry and wonder if the ocean and storms will be cruel, if tonight will be the night. That even the best of sailors, the most prepared of men, can fall prey to this storm and be captured by it. I also loved how you mentioned the kiss good morning but not goodbye, that emphasis that it is not the end.

    The anticipation at the end and the anxiety is palpable, the softest patter of rain can turn into a nightmare.

    • 4 years ago

      by D.

      Yeah, sometimes I do that by mistake! I write poems in big blocks sometimes then separate them into stanzas afterwards, leaving some of the punctuation behind. I agree there’s too many! I’ve actually removed a couple :)

  • 4 years ago

    by Dagmar Wilson

    I am glad to see this nominated. There is something about this that goes much deeper. Add to my favorite. All the best to you

  • 4 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    There's a deliberate tone to these words that bear more than imagery. There is a weight of loss and memory too. To me, this careful walk through sepia sand is haunting.
    Excellent.

    • 4 years ago

      by D.

      Thanks Michael and Dagmar. It’s a little snapshot of a much larger story :)

  • 4 years ago

    by Em (marmite)

    Glad to see this nominated

  • 4 years ago

    by Milly Hayward

    Glad to see this nomated. A superb piece not forced, flows well full of emotion. Milly x

    • 4 years ago

      by D.

      Brenda, Milly, Star and Ben - thank you for your kind words :) it was nice to post something for the first time in a small while

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