After millennia underground,
this stone erupted to the surface
as the earth trembled and shook.
Chipped free of its stratum,
it was glacier-bound, dreaming,
until liberated by melting polar ice.
Then it slid into the ocean,
bounced off brain coral,
hitchhiked on a turtle, was
swallowed by a whale for two
hundred years before being
swept up in restless waves to
tumble at my feet. A cypher.
A rune from the universe.
A token of a sea goddess.
Left on the shortest day
of the longest year.
Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: Happy winter solstice! What a year! We’re nearly to 2018. Happy Holidays and hugs to all the people who embrace magic, light and love!
Happy Poetry Friday and thanks to Buffy Silverman for hosting!
“hitchhiked on a turtle, was
swallowed by a whale for two
hundred years before being
swept up in restless waves to ”
beautiful lines…brought a smile…well written 🙂
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Thanks!
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🙂
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What fun, Brenda! I’ve written a poem about the stories rocks tell, but I love your very specific tale of one rock’s long journey. Happy New Year!
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Thanks, Laura. Happy New Year to you and yours!
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I loved following the journey of your stone that arrived with just the right message at just the right time!
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Thanks, Kay! I’m glad you shared in the message with me.
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Hi, Brenda–
I thought I was going to enjoy again the Susan Cooper poem of the same name, but I got a brilliant surprise. This poem is a rich reminder to look down, look up, look out for the small messages of beauty that refresh our tired spirits. Thank you.
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That is a great poem by Susan Cooper. I found a link to it: http://greensideup.ie/tag/poem-by-susan-cooper/. Sadly, I hadn’t read it when I picked the title for mine, but, even so, I don’t think I’ll change it. My poem was on quite a different journey than Susan Cooper’s yule celebration. I’m glad my poem was a brilliant surprise for you. I needed the reminder, too. What a year.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
LYRICAL LONGINGS OF A ROCK OPERA REALIZED! LOVE THE SCIENTIFIC JARGON—USED PROPERLY AND WITH THE EXCITING BITS! AND A HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE TO YOU, TOO (I EVEN WROTE ABOUT IT THIS YEAR)!
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Thanks, Jonathan. I hope you’re having a great holiday!
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Doing our best! Working Christmas night, but then someone has to mind the store buildings!
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You’re the man.
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My wife says so! 🙂
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What an amazing portent from The Universe! Glad you were there to receive the message and pass it along to the rest of us!
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I do think it was meant for more than just me. 🙂 Happy Holidays, Mary Lee!
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I love how your chance rock discovery led you on a creative journey and that you shared it with us! It’s such fun to imagine the paths that intersect in our lives–the rock’s journey and yours. Here’s to a year full of creativity and whimsy! (I’m at an air bnb and the internet connection is wonky so I apologize if this duplicates !)
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I love how your chance rock discovery led you on a creative journey and that you shared it with us! It’s such fun to imagine the paths that intersect in our lives–the rock’s journey and yours. Here’s to a year full of creativity and whimsy!
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Glad you like my little imaginary journey, complete with its secret message. Here’s to dreaming our dreams and making them come true.
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“A rune from the universe” is exactly right. We need to carry all the love and light we can into the coming year. Happy holidays, Brenda!
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Thanks, Catherine! I’m glad my poem resonated with you. And I agree. Light and love is the answer.
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Happy shortest day, Brenda! Interesting journey you depict…one must wonder about the stories of this little rock’s brethren.
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I’m sure there would be other fabulous stories on that beach. 🙂 Happy Holidays! I hope you have help eating all those cookies.
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I love the journey of this stone and the poem’s perfect twist at the end. You found a brilliant way to connect the idea of the shortest day to the reality of the longest year.
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Thanks, Joyce. It found its way to me. 🙂
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What a glorious find, Brenda! You have created a perfect poem to capture the heart of this stone’s journey. I wish you a joyful holiday and a blessed New Year!
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Thanks, Kiesha. And to you and yours.
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Isn’t it just serendipity when you come across a stone like this … I love your heart-stone and this stanza,
“hitchhiked on a turtle, was
swallowed by a whale for two
hundred years before being
swept up in restless waves to”
Glad it made it’s way to you so you could create this crater-rich poem for all of us to read! And yes it was quite a long year, but the last few months have flown by too quickly for me. Happiest of Holidays to you and your family Brenda! xo
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Thank you, Michelle, and to you and yours. May you and your art prosper in the New Year. XOXO
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Thanks Brenda, and you and your writing too!
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So creative , and a wonderful reminder to look at things around us with a bit more curiosity and wonder – even something as simple as a rock on the beach can hold wondrous stories, if we take the time to look and imagine!
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And the pastime is entirely free. 🙂
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Loving heart stones, and loving your ode to this one and the solstice, Brenda. The shortest day, yes, and certainly the longest year! Enjoy your holidays!
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Thanks, Linda. You, too!
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How marvelous that, after all those travels, it ended up with you. 🙂 Enjoyed your poem very much, Brenda. Here’s to a rejuvenating winter break!
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Absolutely planning on rejuvenation. If only that was a lasting magic. 🙂 As for my stone, it ended up with all of us, since I’ve shared its message widely.
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What a splendid tale! My favorite is being swallowed by a whale for 200 years. I have a very old story of a rock….you make me want to dig it out (or up) and work on it. Thank you and Happy Holidays!
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Thanks, Linda. I’m not sure where it came from. I had intended to write something else entirely and then didn’t. Life is funny that way.
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You ran with that one so well
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Thanks, Derrick. I’m afraid it might not stand up to geological scrutiny, but I renewed my artistic license recently. 😉
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I wouldn’t know 🙂
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The words are so beautiful, playful and powerful like the sea waves we admire and do wonder to us. Every word treated with gentleness and beauty.
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Thanks, Vishal. What a lovely comment.
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What an imaginative journey for your stone! (And yes, unfortunately I agree that this seems like the longest year….)
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I do fear we’re sailing into a storm next year. That makes these days of calm that much more necessary.
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Lovely words, and so very fitting!
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Thanks!
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wow Brenda – you have a magic touch – this is deeply impressive with beautiful meaning!!!
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Thanks, Mihran! I appreciate your words very much.
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This post was a most excellent way to remember Winter Solstice! I’m giddy the days are gonna get longer now.
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Yay for more light, arriving soon to a neighborhood near you!
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Fabulous and beautiful stone.
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Thanks, Gigi. 🙂
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Brava.. 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
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Thank you!
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I love this journeyed stone poem. How perfect to start the winter, and celebrate the days becoming longer! 😀
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Thanks, Resa!
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