People that build their houses inland,
People that buy a plot of ground
Shaped like a house, and build a house there,
Far from the sea-board, far from the sound
Of water sucking the hollow ledges,
Tons of water striking the shore,—
What do they long for, as I long for
One salt smell of the sea once more?
People the waves have not awakened,
Spanking the boats at the harbour's head,
What do they long for, as I long for,—
Starting up in my inland bed,
Beating the narrow walls, and finding
Neither a window nor a door,
Screaming to God for death by drowning,—
One salt taste of the sea once more?
I subscribe to a poetry site that sends poems to my inbox every day. This poem came up recently, and because of it, I ended up buying her collected poems. I used to live by the sea, once upon a time, and I miss the smell of it, and the sound of the waves, and the look of the light upon the water so much. This poem reminds of my own longing that I keep tucked away, stuck inland as I am. Thank you for posting it here too :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. I'm a real land lubber, myself, though I love the sea in theory.
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