Used with Permission of Artist Joy Dickson
Memories
are black pearls,
heavy rounds
of moon and sea
Copyright 2018 Brenda Davis Harsham Continue reading
Black Pearl
Tag Archives: sea
Sea Song
January Misgivings
In honor of Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day, I find myself speechless, but I am resonating with:
Herman Melville’s Misgivings
When ocean-clouds over inland hills
Sweep storming in late autumn brown,
And horror the sodden valley fills,
And the spire falls crashing in the town,
I muse upon my country’s ills—
The tempest bursting from the waste of Time
On the world’s fairest hope linked with man’s foulest crime. Continue reading
The Wizard Sea
This gray day, I find myself at sea, as I read Herman Melville’s poetry. In his life, he suffered the fears and disappointments of writing for a living. The fickle nature of the sea symbolized his readers, who loved Moby Dick, but deserted him with their indifference to his later works, including stirring civil war poetry.
Here is an excerpt from his poem, The Haglets, that speaks to my fairy-tale-loving heart:
Imbedded deep with shells
And drifted treasure deep,
Forever he sinks deeper in
Unfathomable sleep —
His cannon round him thrown,
His sailors at his feet,
Where never haglets beat. Continue reading
Riddle Me
I fly, I glide,
my worries hide.
I rise, I dive,
I feel alive!
I eat, I sleep,
I scout the deep.
Who am I?
I’m not dry!
For 80 years
I’ve shed no tears.
I eat squid —
I would not kid.
I’m a turtle,
Yes, I’m Myrtle.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: I took this photo on a recent visit to the New England Aquarium. Myrtle is a Green Sea Turtle who’s lived at the aquarium since 1970. She’s about 80 years old and 500 pounds! In addition to squid, she eats lettuce and cabbage and is particularly fond of brussels sprouts. She can have mine!
Seabird Sentinel
Seabirds dip and dive,
Catching crabs and fish.
A seagull watches children play,
From his lonely perch on the sand.
He lives always in between,
On the edge between sea and land,
Soaring far above them both,
Never joining in the games.
His hoarse caw echoes
Past the dry curls of seaweed,
Mingling with the salty air.
Sometimes, on the inside,
Each of us is like that seabird,
Watching others play,
Outside, on the edge of other things.
And yet, what would the sea be
Without the seabird, standing watch?
Each of us is needed, ever part and apart.
Note: I dedicate this post of all those affected by the two lost Malaysian airplanes, one found (MH17) and one not (MH 370). My heart goes out to the victims and their families. We are all needed, and their loss is our loss.
Cairn for the Sea
What offering can we leave the sea?
It has no need of you or me.
The moon can draw forth the waves,
but you and I are but slaves.
Inner anxieties diminish and worries
Lessen in the ocean’s furies.
Peaceful watching the water’s play
Is how I would spend my day.
And yet some sign of thanks are needed
For the peace and joy received.
One of us begins to stack a tall cairn of stone,
With each large rock lifted, a groan.
Each helps and with our effort, fixed on creating beauty
We fulfill our remaining duty,
To show our appreciation for this untamed land
Which gives peace and makes lives grand.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: I dedicate this post to the Artists for Peace, who are trying to make the world more peaceful, one beautiful piece of art at a time. We need more art, more peace, and less war and violence. The first link will lead you to their page of topics, the one for this August being friendship. I chose a topic of thankfulness, because I am thankful for our earth, and I wish to be its friend. I would like to spread a love for our earth’s wild places. If you click on the Artists 4 Peace logo, it will take you to their home page.
It’s Raining Awards at Friendly Fairy Tales!!
Although on vacation, I took a few moments while my flat tire is being repaired, to share this rain shower of awards with you. My children are reading books, riding the carousel and planning our lunch destination.
Thanks to Getting Rid of Boredom for the Sunshine Award. No one should have to suffer from boredom, and we all benefit for this cool blog’s search for all things fun and exciting! 🙂
And thanks to Leslie Jo at Tales of Wild Boomba for the Super Sweet Blogging Award. Leslie Jo never fails to make me laugh. She’s a great writer, who knows the magic of involving the reader.
Thanks to Ajaytao for his trio bouquet of super awards!! I hope you check out his site, he adds beauty and inspiration to your life and makes an ordinary day extraordinary.
A bit more rain fell on my way home with a newly repaired tire. Thanks to Blueribbonfair for making me officially part of the very nice WordPress Family! I hope you will visit her post, she has great arts and crafts and photographs and more!
I’m spending my days with mermaids, leaping fish, and pirates. My children have been laughing, my husband smiling and our days have been fun, despite rain, clouds and last night’s flat tire. Pointing our noses into the sea wind, we are peppered by salty spray. During moments of free Wi-fi I also was inspired by fellow bloggers, whose photographs make my mornings and evenings blossom with story ideas. To say a special thanks to commenters, followers, chance visitors and fairy tale lovers everywhere, here are a few pictures from my vacation, which has been stellar!
I’ve decided to take a vacation from the rules, and I will perhaps visit and nominate you for your very own rain shower of awards. Your odds of this happening dramatically rise from your commenting here. 🙂 Meanwhile, I will work on a new story involving a Dwarvish clan shaman and some magic beans inspired by VitPeyr’s top 5 sunrise. I hope you visit him, too, he has amazing photographs of Australia.
Peace, love, joy and magic to all of you!!
Brenda
Friendly Fairy Tales 