I lit a fire on the beach
you were feeling beaten by the wind
no, we can’t hear anything in this weather
but the waves and the crackling wood
you don’t speak anyway
we have nothing we care to say
Our human silences amid nature’s screams
fill me with a loss so unforgettable
Our human silences amid nature’s screams
fill me with a void so inescapable
The sky goes dark and the sea slides away
time is huge and our movements tiny
I wrote my address on the back of your hand
but you reached into the water and it vanished
I can’t imagine a life not anchored here
as you turn slow to dive from me
The answers come only with soft punches
a milked stone, I lie folded and bruised
how could we ever know this lost romance
your whirlpool eyes cry tears of understanding
I dust the sand from my baked face and frown
there’s no warning of love’s swift decay
Our human silences amid nature’s screams
fill me with an ache so all consuming
Moon reveals the night’s black heart
you say you love me, as you leave me
you say you care for me, as you go down on him
there’s no favour you can grant me anymore
there’s no connection to the blood in my heart
just open your palms, expose our withered bonds
The rain rages fast and hard across the sand
we tussle as broken wings on some sick bird
finality comes to me, its decision absolute
your hand slips away and swings clear for all time
I fall back into the water, exhaling slowly
‘Our home cannot be here…’
[2010]
Thanks for reading.
I have a new book… ‘The Ship-wrecker’s Lamp: Selected Poems 2010 – 2020’ available now.
The Lighthouse 
I listened with my eyes closed and was jolted by the last line devoid of background water effects. It was a good jolt!
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Oh Peter, thanks for listening. I’m always curious to know if people listen or read (or both – or neither). I really enjoy putting those audio readings together and I’m glad you enjoyed. Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to get up and do a live poetry reading… Small steps! Keep well, T.
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Do you have a sound booth or mini studio? It sounds very professional!
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Thanks Peter. Nothing special, just a MacBook Air (which claims it has ‘studio mics’, whatever that means) and GarageBand…
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I have both so will have to experiment!
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Go for it – and let me know if you post any, I’d love to hear.
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It’s good to hear this again Tom!
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Thanks Peter. Hearing it again, I’m reminded why I was disappointed with this reading and why I now do a couple of attempts and not just settle for the first one. I was quite taken aback by the emotional punch of the jumbled words, if only every poem came out like this 🙂
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We are our own harshest critics Tom!
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Thanks Peter. Hearing it again, I’m reminded why I was disappointed with this reading and why I now do a couple of attempts and not just settle for the first one. I was quite taken aback by the emotional punch of the jumbled words, if only every poem came out like this 🙂
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