I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

4 April 2016

At Brunswick Heads

That confluence of waters where
the Brunswick River meets the sea
is only a little dirty after recent rains.
Its taste is clean salt.

We swim safe
behind banks of rock.
The waves crash, out there;
in here they are sweet ripples.

I stand on a sandy bottom,
no stones to cut my feet.
Seaweed fondles my ankle;
I wriggle it easily off.

A lone galah flaps fast
toward the clouds then back.
A seagull perches alertly
upon the nearest rock.

A blue heeler pup
splashes and bounces,
chasing its boy up onto the sand.
A crow soars over the trees.















Photograph taken by Benedict Spearritt, Brunswick Heads swimming hole near the mouth of the river. Available through a Creative Commons licence.


Posted for Day 4 of April Poetry Month 2016 at 'imaginary garden with real toads': Nature Poetry
I took the opportunity to revise a 10-year-old draft.

15 comments:

  1. This sounds like an idyllic spot for a peaceful swim.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, and very popular for that reason. The photo must have been taken in winter! I've never seen the beach as empty as that. :)

      Delete
  2. Sounds like a delightful place to connect with Nature and tune the spirit.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such gorgeous images here in your verse :D
    Beautifully penned.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah lovely. This really fits into the tradition of nature poetry--you've handled it so well. Thanks. k.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ps - especially love that caress of seaweed. k.

    ReplyDelete
  6. A wonderful description. I esp. loved "A blue heeler pup
    splashes and bounces,
    chasing its boy up onto the sand.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your images here, I can remember swimming in an ocean inlet, this brings back fond memories, thank you,,

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such an ideal scene, your words lull me. I adored the puppy.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice lines, Rosemary. Makes me want to tag along. But, ...
    It might be a peaceful swim but the water is very cold. I doubt it ever gets into the 70's, our Gulf waters are almost there now. Googling will find the temps.
    ..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! This is the sub-tropics. Average April sea temperatures at Brunswick Heads (far northern NSW Australia) are in the high 70s if you're measuring in Farenheit. This is mid-autumn; it'd be a lot warmer in summer.

      Delete
  10. A beautiful poem. I most love the image of the blue heeler chasing its boy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. A little piece of heaven. Sigh, I could use it right now.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This poem is a huge sigh of relaxation and pure bliss.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are moderated and will be visible after being approved by the blog owner. If you can only comment anonymously, please include your name in the comment, just so I know who's talking to me.