Substance

The seashore is a sort of neutral ground, a most advantageous point from which to contemplate this world. - Thoreau

in opaque glaze

from god knows where

carried 'pon the back of a stealth, foaming breaker

gliding across slaked sand

coming to rest at my faineant feet

a wakeful wave retreats

leaving its sentient cargo behind

i uncork its substance

expecting to find a message

perhaps a desperate plea

aged parchment curled up inside

no writing

naught

i guess sometimes there just aren't any words

but maybe i'm blind to what floats on the sea

disseminating faith

hope

provision

and rescue

to me

Author's Note

“The sea, vast and wild as it is, bears thus the waste and wrecks of human art to its remotest shore. There is no telling what it may not vomit up. He is the best sailor who can steer within the fewest points of the wind, and extract a motive power out of the greatest obstacles.” - Thoreau

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is the ultimate, as far as throwing out this open-ended story told in imagery & then standing back to let the tide brush up against each reader as it may. Almost always "the signs" do not come in well-formed words that we can be reasonably sure we're reading right! *smile* Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

yes, i've generally mentioned what it can contain/not contain but we each have our specific, desperate pleas. some may not even desire to reach out and prefer to give up or wallow in self-pity (my alcoholic friend comes to mind. he won't help himself even though i help him and help is available). i guess sometimes it's not what is said but what is not said. hard to be rescued though when there are no words in the plea ... :)

[John the Baptist]

No booze, no note, nothing. Had to have been put in the water by a sadist.

[Pete]

lol. i know huh - not even five cents redemption on the bottle. maybe they drank the booze, got drunk, didn't write a note and tossed the empty. of all the ones to find i get that one. go figure, story of my life ... :)

[Helen]

i guess sometimes there just aren't any words
but maybe i'm blind to what floats on the sea
disseminating faith
hope
provision
and rescue

to me

The messages are there if we can be open to them. Faith, hope, provision and rescue were brought to me on the tide when I was 40 and I was broken enough to receive them. I am 54 now and alive enough to look out for the messages and they really are everywhere (carried on the tide, from rooftops, in puddles, in poetry!)

This is a beautiful poem that I felt an affinity with - I also felt great awe reading the final words "to me". I feel humbled and blessed reading this, that these gifts are brought specifically to me!

[Pete]

wow. yes, they are there if we are open and true. awesome share. thank you ... :)

[emmajoy]

Seems that what's thrown to the ocean, the sea, to the air.. is on a strange journey.. no true aim whispered over its departure. Perhaps that's why it is best left empty. Messages within clarity but not addressed can fade, become meaningless, perhaps? Your writing has such a dEep, often emotional echo, Pete and, in quite a mysterious half visible way. Wondering what triggered your words, the thoughts behind them? Must read again.. see if i can find something more or see if it is more about nothing truly visible or.. .. Take care, keep safe.

[Pete]

as my muse wrote, "the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation." to reach out and communicate with another is to share, elevate oneself and be human. perhaps it is hope and faith that we seek to be uncorked and carried by fate and destiny as present in the sea. there is just something about a message in a bottle - whenever at the shore i think about floating one or finding one. mystery (as you point out) and anonimity are nice feature too ... :)

[Kaylor Mason]

This is a truly wonderful poem. I agree with you completely when it comes to the sentiments of the ocean.

[Pete]

such kind thoughts shared. thank you kaylor ... :)

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Nice words of poetry and a good picture and song to boot.

[Pete]

thanks cvd. may all your pleas be answered and rock on ... :)

[Yellow Butterfly]

Even though the message is blank....the message is clear...to stay centred and focused and not to give in.......everything is possible!

I like that you came back to this....

YB

[Pete]

thanks. there's just something about the whole message in a bottle thing. i think there's some desperation in all of us seeking answers and rescue even if anonymously ... :)

[Yellow Butterfly]

So true... :)

[Pete]

yes, i went back and changed the ending ... :)

[Yellow Butterfly]

fair to say both were suffice....although this ending gives the reader more food for thought....maybe 'we' are all blind to what floats on the sea! It's never too late for change!

:)