Breakers

The cry of the sea, such a lonely call,
as we walk on these stormy shores.
Soft voices, afar, are heard on the breeze,
weeping, alone, full of watery dreams,
we might hardly dare to recall.

The cry of the sea, such a distant call,
as we walk on our land-locked shores.
But our hearts will fill, with a storm that beats
cloud, heavy with thoughts, through the space between,
to hammer our stony walls down.

The cry of the sea, a passionate call,
as my soul swells the fires of hell
through the frozen void of delinquent heaven,
to shatter, on flames of a love, free given,
and claim it, again, as its own.

The cry of the sea, an intimate call,
of a tide that consumes hard land.
Proud mountains will crumble to cliffs, and fall,
at the ocean’s kiss, that devours them all,
but demands no more than it’s owed.

© Simon J Ashcroft, 2024

*Thoughts that emerged watching the spring tide at Porthcawl

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Day & Night

In the soft, swift light of morning
we were born out of the dark,
to walk our dreams of daytime –
as we travelled, far apart.
But our dreams were guides of lifetimes,
though we could not see the paths,
and they brought our steps together
as we’d written in our stars.

So, we met, when noon was nodding
at our changing shadows’ length;
walked dreams toward the sunset –
in the hope they’d never end.
Now, the darkness starts to gather
round the foothills of our days;
but we’ll grasp the chance for living
while the sun still sends its rays.

I must leave you, you must leave me,
at the dying of the day,
to walk our dreams of shadow –
though we’re sure to find our way.
Then, when morning’s glow is streaming,
painting figures through the night,
we will link our hands with laughter
and return into the light.

© Simon J Ashcroft, 2022

This is a strange one. I was humming a tune for some weeks. Not one I recognise or have heard before. Then the last verse, in outline, just sort of presented itself to me. The first 2 verses grew naturally from that. I do not usually bother with rhyme. Is this a poem, a song, both? Where did it come from? No idea.

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Lohan

Mind, in silence.
Observe the world within, the world without,
but do not judge,
for all is one, and all encompassing.
Smile at all the folly you have known,
within; without.

This strange insight,
apart from all, perceiving all, with gaze
unfixed, yet sure.
Become the seat of peace and clarity;
sit, at ease with all life may demand –
it turns to nought.

Impassively,
expression has no force upon the face
where passion fails.
This non-response, forever, will withstand.
Smile with joy, and sadness, on this world,
being neither.

© Simon J Ashcroft, 2022

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