sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: The Jetty

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Back in September and October I took a couple of long walks. Actually, I take long walks regularly, but these two were particularly special, because they were out to sea – a mile and a bit out to sea, along the Busselton Jetty.  This is a really magical walk, and well worth the time if you happen to be visiting my part of the world.

After the walks I sat down and wrote this poem, which I have finally got a round to editing, with the photos I took, into a video:

 

And here is the text version:

 

Jetty

A lovely feature of the jetty is that it has poetry displayed on it. Hoorah!

I’m a mile out to sea

But I’m not wet

The planks beneath my feet

Don’t rock and sway

with the waves

 

I’m a mile out to sea

And so is the gull

Perched on the railing

Watching me

Beady-eyed

 

I’m a mile out to sea

And down below

Dark water swirls

And swooshes

Singing ocean’s song

 

I’m a mile out to sea

And around me

Salty breeze

whispers the secrets

of places far beyond

 

I’m a mile out to sea

But in a moment

I’ll turn

And start the long walk

Back to land smiling all the way.

(Poem copyright Sally Murphy)

The reason I’ve chosen to share this poem today is because, after I did that walk, I made a decision. I was going to get training and swim around the jetty. Every year, there is annual jetty swim, and I’ve told myself for years that I would do it one day.  So I registered, and started training. I joined my local Masters Swimming group and I trained some more. A lot more. At first I wasn’t sure I could get fit enough. Now I’m feeling reasonably confident. And, if I don’t make it, there are plenty of ladders.  And I can try again next year.

Wish me luck. I’ll let you know how I go.

Have a great Poetry Friday. Please visit the roundup, hosted by Katie at The Logonauts, for lots more poetry goodness.

Poetry Friday: Salfie

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It’s Poetry Friday and I’ve been thinking about selfies: you know, those photos people take of themselves. I got a new mobile phone a couple of months ago, chiefly because I wanted a better camera – and gosh I’ve had fun snapping all kinds of things on my walks, my excursions, and at home.

Like lots of people, some of the photos I take are of myself – and I’ve coined the term Salfie (a bit punny, but there you go). I share these photos on social media, and text them to family and so on, but I always double check that I’m happy with the shot, and am quick to delete those I don’t like. It’s one of the wonders of digital photography – the ability to take dozens of shots and simply delete the ones we don’t like rather than waiting till after the film is processed, as in the not-so-0ld days.

Thinking about this self-editing (or Salf-editing) lead to today’s poem which, since it’s about photos, I’ve made into a Photostory.

 

Have a great Friday. This week’s roundup is at The Logonauts.

Poetry Friday: Dolphin and Me

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Yesterday, I went for a quick walk on my local beach. Only, it didn’t end up being a quick walk at all, because I spent more than an hour watching a pod of dolphins play, and fish and splash just off shore.

I tried to get some footage on my phone, and while it’s not great, you can see a snippet of what I saw – and hear my exclamations.

 

Afterwards, I tried to capture the feeling I had, on an otherwise empty beach, that the dolphins knew I was there and were entertaining me.

 

Dolphin and Me

A tail

A fin

A splash

A jump

A wave?

 

A smile

A gasp

A camera click

A sigh

A wave.

 

(Poem copyright Sally Murphy, 2016)

 

Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is hosted by Irene at Live Your Poem. Head over there to see what other poetry goodness is on offer around the blogosphere.

sallymurphy.com.au