I’m sharing an unpublished poem today, one I originally wrote as part of the collection that became BookSpeak! Poems About Books (Clarion, 2011).? I hope you like it!
Ocean Tales
Each book is a drop in an ocean of choices, A glimpse of a maybe that someday might be. A watery world full of murmuring voices? We whisper you in to the slow-rolling sea.
Come wade into water, through silvery swellers, Where currents will swirl through dark-water tales Of octopus races and black-cavern dwellers And angelfish birthdays and emerald sails.
When storms begin greying and spindrift is spraying, Just lie back and trust in the words of the deep. We’ll swing you along ?til you’re glad you are staying, And after The End, we will rock you to sleep.
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
And here I am reading this poem: I’m going to share a bit about my writing process for this poem next week. Meanwhile, Anastasia Suen at Poet! Poet! has the Poetry Friday Roundup today–as a Pinterest board! Enjoy!
62 Responses
Love the image of “silvery swellers”.
Love the image of “silvery swellers”.
So much to love about this poem, Laura. Very rich in detail 🙂
Thanks, Catherine!
So much to love about this poem, Laura. Very rich in detail 🙂
Thanks, Catherine!
Lovely. I especially love the first two lines.
Thank you, Liz! Those are the lines that really tell what books meant to me as a kid…
Lovely. I especially love the first two lines.
Thank you, Liz! Those are the lines that really tell what books meant to me as a kid…
A wonderful poem! Thanks!
Thanks, Cynthia!
A wonderful poem! Thanks!
Thanks, Cynthia!
This is beautiful, Laura. Love all the watery imagery and how it bobs me along and carries me away.
Thanks, Michelle–books, poems, and water–three great escapes!
This is beautiful, Laura. Love all the watery imagery and how it bobs me along and carries me away.
Thanks, Michelle–books, poems, and water–three great escapes!
Angelfish birthdays! *Swoon!* This is beautiful…thank you so much for letting us read and hear it.
Thanks, Amy! I struggle with whimsical, fantastical elements in poems. They don’t come naturally to me at all. So glad this one worked!
Angelfish birthdays! *Swoon!* This is beautiful…thank you so much for letting us read and hear it.
Thanks, Amy! I struggle with whimsical, fantastical elements in poems. They don’t come naturally to me at all. So glad this one worked!
So glad you shared this with us. I love the ocean metaphor (lots of watery thoughts lately, right?) and always love another book poem! Thanks, Laura!
Thanks, Linda–yes, water everywhere lately! :>)
So glad you shared this with us. I love the ocean metaphor (lots of watery thoughts lately, right?) and always love another book poem! Thanks, Laura!
Thanks, Linda–yes, water everywhere lately! :>)
Beautiful! And a fresh metaphor for the effects of story. My favorite line: “Just lie back and trust in the words of the deep.” Thanks, Laura
Thanks, Jane. I’m going to Fla. next weekend and hope for a quick visit to the beach…
Beautiful! And a fresh metaphor for the effects of story. My favorite line: “Just lie back and trust in the words of the deep.” Thanks, Laura
Thanks, Jane. I’m going to Fla. next weekend and hope for a quick visit to the beach…
That’s lovely, Laura. It carried me away for a bit with its undersea sea images and wavy rhythm.
Thanks, Karin:>)
That’s lovely, Laura. It carried me away for a bit with its undersea sea images and wavy rhythm.
Thanks, Karin:>)
I love the way the ess sounds in this poem mimic the sound of the ocean. Beautiful to read and hear! Thanks for sharing it.
I wonder why this poem didn’t make it into the ocean of Bookspeak! choices…would love to hear your thoughts on why a poem is included or not in a collection. Maybe you’ve already written a blogpost about this?
Thanks, Buffy. Here’s how I answered Matt (above–I was reading most to least recent): “I can?t remember the particulars, but we had to cut several (they only wanted 18 or so poems), and I think the tone of this one felt?different from the others. I was kind of sad, because this one feels a bit magical to me, but there ya go!” That would be a good topic for a post, though. Hmmm…
I love the way the ess sounds in this poem mimic the sound of the ocean. Beautiful to read and hear! Thanks for sharing it.
I wonder why this poem didn’t make it into the ocean of Bookspeak! choices…would love to hear your thoughts on why a poem is included or not in a collection. Maybe you’ve already written a blogpost about this?
Thanks, Buffy. Here’s how I answered Matt (above–I was reading most to least recent): “I can?t remember the particulars, but we had to cut several (they only wanted 18 or so poems), and I think the tone of this one felt?different from the others. I was kind of sad, because this one feels a bit magical to me, but there ya go!” That would be a good topic for a post, though. Hmmm…
The layers of rich textured words is wonderful
The word flow like the waves of the water
Thanks, Jessica!
The layers of rich textured words is wonderful
The word flow like the waves of the water
Thanks, Jessica!
Always enjoy hearing you read your work. Lovely rhythm, images and diction in this one.
Thank you, Jama. I miss you!
Always enjoy hearing you read your work. Lovely rhythm, images and diction in this one.
Thank you, Jama. I miss you!
The wild water woman in me is soothed by your beautiful words, Laura. Such a lovely poem. I included Bookspeak as part of my text-set for a higher-degree course I am teaching on the use of multicultural children’s books to promote socioemotional learning. I hope Ocean Tales is found in Water Can Be. 🙂
Aw, thank you, Myra! I am honored to have BOOKSPEAK on your list. Ocean Tales doesn’t live in any book, and now that I’ve shared it here, I pry can’t submit it to many mags, either. Oh well. Lovely to share it with my online friends.
The wild water woman in me is soothed by your beautiful words, Laura. Such a lovely poem. I included Bookspeak as part of my text-set for a higher-degree course I am teaching on the use of multicultural children’s books to promote socioemotional learning. I hope Ocean Tales is found in Water Can Be. 🙂
Aw, thank you, Myra! I am honored to have BOOKSPEAK on your list. Ocean Tales doesn’t live in any book, and now that I’ve shared it here, I pry can’t submit it to many mags, either. Oh well. Lovely to share it with my online friends.
I can’t believe that didn’t make it into the book, Laura…it’s gorgeous! I wonder, what was the editor’s rationale?
I can’t remember the particulars, but we had to cut several (they only wanted 18 or so poems), and I think the tone of this one felt…different from the others. I was kind of sad, because this one feels a bit magical to me, but there ya go!
I can’t believe that didn’t make it into the book, Laura…it’s gorgeous! I wonder, what was the editor’s rationale?
I can’t remember the particulars, but we had to cut several (they only wanted 18 or so poems), and I think the tone of this one felt…different from the others. I was kind of sad, because this one feels a bit magical to me, but there ya go!
Fabulous poem, Laura, especially the last line:
“And after The End, we will rock you to sleep” . = )
Thanks, Bridget!
Fabulous poem, Laura, especially the last line:
“And after The End, we will rock you to sleep” . = )
Thanks, Bridget!
Wow. This makes me appreciate how hard it was for the editor to choose which poems to include!
Yeah, being an anthologist must be very tricky. I would be saying, “No, I want ALL the poems!”
Wow. This makes me appreciate how hard it was for the editor to choose which poems to include!
Yeah, being an anthologist must be very tricky. I would be saying, “No, I want ALL the poems!”