Monday 10 September 2018

Hungry Sea

The sea is hungry -
her appetite growing in the unnatural heat
she rises with the moon
to gorge on soft sandy cliffs,
sneaks into coastal marshes
to steal the mud
leaving behind her calling card
in traces of brine
at high tide



Originally written for Poetry Thursday - theme - be inspired by the newspaper.


I wrote this poem in response to the headline - Living on the Edge, Guardian, 9 October 2006 - article about coastal erosion and its relationship with global climate change and it remains all too relevant 12 years later.

16 comments:

Catherine said...

Simple but telling. (Let's hope we can do something to stop global warming)

Helen said...

Beautifully written. Keeping this one.
Love this poem!

michelle said...

This is absolutely breathtaking.

Anonymous said...

A nicely carved out part of the global issue, and it’s easier to chew on in small pieces.

Anonymous said...

really good. I loved that you gave her a living realitiy, because the sea is indeed the mother of all, and if we do not honor her she will stop caring for us...Thanks..M

Anonymous said...

Oh, I had global warming and eroding coastlines in mine, too -- I wonder, as I work through this list, how many references I will see?

The overwhelming issue.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Catherine - indeed let's hope we can do something. Helen - I'm delighted you want to 'keep' this one! Michelle - thanks :). Mike - most of my poems are shorter to make them easier to chew! Madd - yes, the sea is the mother of all. sb yes it is the overwhelming issue. Lynn - thanks!

Emily said...

Great poem! I love how succinct it is...it lends a nice contrast to the size of large shores eroding.

Sue Seibert said...

Oh, that's lovely.

Tammy Brierly said...

The use of the words
hungry
appetite
gorge

were perfect choices for the imagery. Sad but well done!

twilightspider said...

I agree with Madd, I love the sea-as-woman feeling here. Such simple and beautiful personification.

Lené Gary said...

The way you describe water sneaking into the marsh and gorging on the cliffs reminded me of the reports I've heard about loon populations under major stress this year in NH and ME due to flooding.

Anonymous said...

I like how you personified the sea. such an interesting takeoff from a news article!

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful poem you have made.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Beautiful poem and writing. Thanks for sharing.
I love the ocean! Have a happy day!

Lowcarb team member said...

Lovely to read :)

All the best Jan