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Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: My Beach is a Poem

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It’s Poetry Friday and, if you’ve read my last few posts, you’ll know I’ve been thinking a lot about what poetry is – with some surprising results, including last week’s comparison of poetry to chicken cacciatore.

Yesterday, as I took my morning walk on ‘my’ beach (I do share it with other locals, but sometimes it really does feel like it is there just for meeeeee). I thought for perhaps the millionth time how very beautiful it is, in all it’s different faces. The line ‘My beach is a poem’ came to me and, at home, this is what came out:

My beach is a poem:

laying out her

glories each morning;

welcoming me

to her sand.

 

My beach is a poem:

her  salty air

medicine

to soothe

my troubled mind.

 

My beach is a poem:

water like sparking jewels

spilling from

a sandy treasure chest.

 

My beach is a poem:

whispering waves

singing and crooning

their morning tune.

 

My beach is a poem.

(Sally Murphy, 2024)

As a first draft, I like it, and could see it being a useful mentor text, with each verse using a different poetic technique. and the repeated line ‘My ______ is a poem.’

Speaking of beaches, I am lucky enough to be heading off for the next week to visit the beautiful Rottnest Island (also known by its traditional name, Wadjemup) , for some snorkelling, some beach walking and, importantly some research and writing time. Feel sorry for me? You shouldn’t! I’d take you with me if I could.

Before I head off, I’m off to checkout the other Poetry Friday goodness. Margaret is hosting the weekly roundup.

Comments

  2. Sally, your beach looks lovely. This is the 2nd item we have in common: my beach and the 2024 OLW-pause. The lines that made me visualize my NY beach as I live inland in Virginia now:
    whispering waves
    singing and crooning
    their morning tune.

    On Long Island the waves roared and other times gently crooned their song. Enjoy the beach for me.

  6. oooooh! An island retreat for writing? I’m jealous. I do love this draft. It’s so in the moment and just how I would see and feel the beach too. That’s what pulls me in…they are your words but I can imagine a beach as mine. I’ll have to think about what is “mine” that is also a poem. The single-syllable word, “beach,” is striking. I like the strength of that word. Have fun writing!

    • Thank you Linda. Yes, I think a single syllable word works best for this line. Makes me wonder what else could be used – perhaps tree? lake? dog?

  7. Ah, nice, Sally. The “Her salty air/medicine/to smoothe” lines remind me of our little beach nearby. It’s super cold right now but I always feel this way when I’m there.

  8. Love the structure with the repeated line. By the end of your poem I was so relaxed. Thank you.

  10. Before I even got to the part where you suggested the form as a prompt, I had written down “Idea from Sally Murphy ‘My _____ is a poem.” Have a wonderful trip exploring, researching, writing. Ah, yes. I am envious.

  11. Oh, envious me loves that you share and wrote all about your beach, Sally. I love all the parts you wrote and seeing the loveliness, even from afar. Have a fabulous trip!

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