Dare the Waves

Since I used up my first rights on the Sea Music anthology for this one:

Dare the Waves
by Lucy Gabriel

At seven
my plastic bucket is full
of stripes and swirls
made bright by sea water.
I chase waves
and build castles
that dry and crumble,
or are washed away by tide,
and build them again.

At seventeen
sandcastles are an exercise
in futility.
The shells have dulled
in a bowl on my windowsill
Too old for bucket and spade,
too self-conscious for swimsuits,
there's nothing to do
but sit in the sun
with sand disappearing
up my butt crack.

At twenty-seven
I only go when it's quiet,
after the crowds,
to walk barefoot in waves
that wet rolled up trousers.
Dog walkers nod and smile,
while I fill pockets with treasures
still damp with sand,
build free-form castles
and dare the waves to take them.

Poetry Workshop - #loveseamusic

Back in September I went to a poetry workshop run by Becci Louise. It was part of an initiative by a local museum to support the upkeep and promotion of Sea Music, a sculpture by Anthony Caro.

Due to issues with promoting the workshop on the website only a few people turned up, but that made for a cosier and less classroom atmosphere. We were amply supplied with tea, coffee and biscuits, although Becci's companion parrot Maya forcefully let us know she wanted to share in the latter.

We started with a few minutes of drawing our interpretation of the spirit of the sea. We also did some free writing to Clocks and Clouds' Towers Fall Into the Sea, a majestic track that I felt was a little ruined by the pop-style drums. We also browsed some images of the sea, both artwork and pictures of some of the more unusual creatures that inhabit it. Throughout Becci asked us to write poems based on each of the exercises.

We also shared our opinions of Sea Music, and our thoughts about the sea. I reflected on how mine has changed as I've grown older. That led to more poems.

After lunch there was time for a little more work and chat, but then a cameraman turned up to film Becci reading her poems as part of the promotion. The rest of us left to finish our works, as it had been asked if we'd be willing to donate one or two to an anthology Becci was putting together to support the planned exhibition.

The exhibition itself opened on 21st October. I donated two poems, "Storm and Spirit" and "Dare the Waves", and received a copy of the hand-made anthology. There was also a collection by Becci herself, of the work she wrote while Writer in Residence.

I'm not normally a fan of workshops, but really enjoyed this one. Becci was expert at coaxing words out of even shy or reluctant poets (seriously, I hate free writing), and there was no pressure to share. I'd go to another, given the opportunity.