when I was young and strong

When I was young and strong,
I would pack a bag,
grab a baguette, some cheese,
perhaps an egg,
make you all grab
a towel
a dream,
a net
and all the paraphernalia;

find a rock,
a shelter
a cross in the sand,
build a fortress
an imagination,
dig with toes
and follow the flow,
in or out,
looking for keyholes.

When I was young, strong
and invinceable
I would strap onto my shoulders
and swim
your dolphin bodies
slick against my skin,
gasping when the waves hit
sometimes we tumbled;
the time you lost your
mouth brace
and we couldn't find it.

I dug up a plastic ring,
my pirates hoard,
I wore it till it broke,
put the pieces in a chest
let the wind catch the sail.

Young and fearless
I swam so far,
I could see you
scanning the horizon,
but I was an eel then
and I slipped between boats
and cut my leg on the rocks.

When I was young and strong,
I strapped my young
and swam,
for I was a mermaid then
and now I find the heat
in shallows,
watch an underwater scene
and still I swim,
unfettered now,
the freedom
still encapsulates me.



Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 643 times
Written on 2011-06-27 at 20:55

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Neelima
Such great imagery! I almost swam along with you in my imagination!
2011-08-06


NicholasG
Very enjoyable mermaids tale.
Just as good a read the second time :-)
xox
2011-06-29


shells
This is just lovely, I understand the pull of the sea and the nostalgia. Enjoyed the" grab a dream" line perfectly placed amongst the practical things, but it 's the most important thing of all. Your final four lines made me smile as I recognised myself.
2011-06-27