A recent Poetry Friday post by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater inspired me to revisit a moment I’d written about (here) and try to create a poem from it. I was further intrigued by her idea of “smoosh-ing” two words together to make new ones.
Pulse
Face the ocean
Stand still
with both feet sandplanted
Close your eyes
Feel the sunwarmth brush your cheeks
Breath the fresh, salty air
In
Out
In
Out
Listen to the whisper of the breeze
the rhythmic rush of surf
In
Out
In
Out
Tune in
to your own
steady
pulse
©Molly Hogan, 2019
Carol Varsalona is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup this week at her blog, Beyond Literacy Link. She’s sharing a fabulous travel log celebrating summer adventures. Be sure to stop by and check it out!
Nix the comfort zone 
Molly, I have been thinking about Amy’s challenge. I like to smoosh words together. Sandplanted and sunwarmth are two goods ones you created. I could use them are great beachlife words (started using that hashtag when creating my #digitalartwork). Thanks for your word play and poem.
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Thanks, Carol! I enjoy “wordsmooshing” and had to restrain myself a bit: I had quite a few other possibilities, but didn’t want to overdo it. Beachlife is one that works for me as well 🙂
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You know I love this poem, Molly. Thank you for sharing it today. I needed a reminder this morning to “tune in
to [my] own
steady
pulse.”
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It’s a reminder that I need on a regular basis!
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Love this, Molly–and sandplanted is an awesome word. It’s fun to say, surprising, but immediately understandable. Score!
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Thanks 🙂 It’s fun to play with combining words and this one was a happy result!
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Boy, I’m beat…just got home from a week of school and climbed into my chair. The first PF poem I opened is this. And, I sooooooo appreciate the purposeful planting of feet, feeling of warmth, recognizing my pulse as a part of this picture. Molly, this poem is practically an Rx. Thank you. I don’t even notice the smooshing…although I see them. I more notice the meditative quality. A lovely, poem.
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What a lovely comment, Linda! I’m so glad the poem filled a need. I love the idea of poetry as a prescription! Maybe I should have called it Rx? Ocean Rx? (You know how much I enjoy titling pieces! lol) I hope you’ve enjoyed a restorative weekend.
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Your words sandplanted and sunwarmth are perfect for a walk along the beach. I might have to steal those words.
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I bet your students would LOVE to smoosh words!
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‘tune in’ is one part of living that’s so good for us, and ‘sand planted’ can be anywhere, can’t it? Thanks for making the image, Molly. I do love the ocean, too, wishing it was closer.
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I especially love visiting the ocean in autumn and hope to sneak in a visit today. It’s about 45 minutes from us to a “real” beach but always worth the time and effort to get there!
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Molly, you’ve taken us with you to the ocean. Your poem is lovely, and I really enjoyed the new words you created by “smooshing” two together.
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Thanks, Kimberly! Amy LVW is always an inspiration!
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I can feel my pulse slowing as I read your poem. I love sandplanted and sunwamrth but like Linda says I find the peaceful meditation to speak to me the most.
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That peaceful meditation is why I go to the beach and other favorite spots with my camera (or without). Nature prompts me to pause and meditate.
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I love your wordsmooshing. Sandplanted and sunwarmth are perfect together! Reading your poem grounded me. Took me back to my annual trip to a cabin on the ocean with friends. Thank you so much!
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We all need those places to return to, if only in our minds. Ocean side visits are so grounding…
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You definitely have a talent for wordsmooshing, Molly! (Sandplanted!) I can see how it might become addictive and that the key is to use it sparingly. I also love how the shape of your poem, turned on its side, is a pulse. How clever are you?!
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Not as clever as you think I am! rofl But thanks for the vote of confidence!
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