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Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: A Crabby Friend

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It seems the beach continues to offer me new friends to chat with. This morning it was a crab, who made me jump when s/he moved just as I drew near. I was glad though, that s/he stopped so I could take her photo and wish her a good morning before she scuttled away.

So, of course, there’s a poem, because it’s Poetry Friday:

Now I’m off to think about the crab’s reply might be.

 

Have a great St Patrick’s Day, and don’t forget to check out the Poetry Friday round-up, which today is hosted by Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge.

Poetry Friday: Good Morning, Ray

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Last Friday, I posted about walking the dolphins. This week, I had planned to post  on a completely different topic. But, this morning as i walked along the beach, I had an encounter with a different marine animal – a stingray, that swam into the shallows very close to me feet and which I then followed along for a while, chatting away to it about the beautiful day.  So, of course, by the time I’d finished my walk, there was a poem in my head.

 

And, if you’d like to see more of Mr Ray, here’s a little video I took.

This morning my usual walk with the dolphins was made extra special because I also walked with a stingray. Of course, by the time I got back to the car I had a poem in my head. Walking is so good for creativity.

Posted by Sally Murphy on Thursday, March 2, 2017

 

Today’s Poetry Friday round up is at My Juicy little Universe. Expect lots of Billy Collins goodness when you visit there.

 

 

Poetry Friday: Walking the Dolphins

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Every Friday I have to drop my son at work very early. this is a good excuse for me to have an early morning beach walk – usually at my favourite dolphin-spotting beach. The dolphins dictate how far I walk, because if there are no dolphins (which is rare) I just walk the length of the beach and turn around again. But if they’re there, I tend to walk further, but will change my direction regularly so I can keep them in sight and find it hard to leave the beach while there are dolphins in sight. After these walks I often tell my family I’ve been ‘walking the dolphins’ and, of course, this has lead to a poem.

 

Look closely – there are two dolphins INSIDE the wave, having a ride.

Walking the Dolphins

Some people like to walk their dogs

I see them in the park

From early in the morning

Until late, long after dark.

 

Some dogs on leads; others romp

Or fetch a stick or ball

Some owners watch their dogs from seats

Not walking much at all.

 

Me? I walk the dolphins

The pooches of the sea

Up and down the beach I go

And dolphins follow me

 

I’m on the sand, they’re further out

But I watch them swim and play

Some times they jump and flap about

And sometimes gently sway

 

I hardly note how far I’ve walked

Up and down the shore

Watching cetaceous friends cavort

Just leaves me wanting more

 

And later on it comes to me

As I turn back from the sea

It’s not me that’s been walking them

But they that have walked me.

 

(Poem copyright Sally Murphy 2017)

 

In case you you haven’t seen it before, here’s my favourite bit of video of one of ‘my’ dolphins coming closer to say hello.

 

Have a great Friday. Today’s Poetry Friday Round Up is hosted by Karen Edmisten. SO, to read lots more poetry goodness, head over there.

Poetry Friday: I Did It

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Last Friday I posted about the Busselton Jetty and my plan to swim around it. It’s been such a hectic week that I haven’t come back to share how I went. So, given that it’s Poetry Friday, I thought I might tell you in verse:

The weather was grey

The ocean was choppy

It rolled and it swayed

But I’d planned for so long

For this one special day

When the starter said ‘go’

I was off and away.

AND
I did it I did it

I swam all the way

I did it I did it

So hip hip hooray!

 

So yes, I managed the 3.6km swim, in a time of 77 minutes and, as you might guess from the photo, I was left elated but also a wee bit exhausted. the water was rougher than expected – a storm front had come through in the days leading up to the swim, and apparently these were the worst conditions there’d been in the race’s history. But my training paid off and I stuck to my rhythm – the same rhythm I’ve tried to use in the poem. So, although I swallowed about half the ocean, I felt pretty good doing it. Good enough that I’ll be going back for another go next year.

Have a great Poetry Friday. The roundup today  will be hosted by Check It Out, so if you want lots more poetry goodness, head over there to see what everyone else is posting.