Prose

The Water’s Edge

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for dVerse Poets By The Beautiful Sea.
This is one of my reworked pieces from 2022.

How I long to walk to the water’s edge,
to dip my toes and cool my burning feet.

There are times I think if I could just reach the water
all my pain would wash away.

Where are the days when I skipped along the shore
collecting shells and rocks and starfish?

My body would bake in the brilliant sun as I danced
like a gazelle from one end of the beach to the other.
I’d look back in amazement wondering how I walked that far.

Sometimes I would catch my reflection in the water
and see that young woman, vibrant and alive.

Hair of burnished gold, skin smooth and lustrous,
deeply tanned, and eyes as green as the ocean itself.

I smile at her but she does not smile back.
Perhaps she knows the hurt that lies ahead
and is already grieving.

I desperately want to be free from these chains of pain
but the key has long been buried in the sand.
I reach for it and again it eludes me.

Where is that young, desirable woman? Where did she go?
If you see her walking by the water’s edge, please send her home.

I have much to tell her. My heart is strong and my lust for life
and love has not diminished. Only my muscles fail me.

How I long to walk to the water’s edge, but my tired
and failing limbs will not support me. Oh, how they mock me!

Will someone carry me to the water’s edge?

How I long to walk there once again.

NAR©2022

By the Beautiful Sea . . . .

From Concert for George, this is Sam Brown et al with “Horse To The Water” by George Harrison

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

39 thoughts on “The Water’s Edge”

    1. Thanks, CA! Pain brings out many emotions and what you just read was about my pain from arthritis …. my constant companion. Sometimes when I’m really suffering, I’ll write about it. Fortunately, most of the time I’m not in pain and I don’t feel as miserable as it sounds in that post! I’m glad you enjoyed my very personal story.

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    1. Many thanks, Michele. 🩵 I believe there are times when pain and sorrow allow us to write more openly, to dig deep and bring out those feelings we don’t normally share. This piece is an example of that experience for me and I’m delighted to know you appreciated it. Thank you for your ceaseless encouragement and good will. 😌

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  8. Would we trade our current wisdom for the slick, strong beauty of our younger years (and pains not readily apparent from the distance of time)?

    Some days? Yah.

    Loved the musical pick, as well. Stellar and moon-kissed poetry.

    🌟🌚🌟

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  12. I enjoyed this write…and the illustration you’ve provided to amplify it.
    “My heart is strong and my lust for life
    and love has not diminished. Only my muscles fail me.”
    Ah yes. Your words above exemplify that life process of aging….and as I say so often, thankful for every day.

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  17. Beaches have such associations with childhood but you have imagined an older self – the peak of youth and the ache we all have to reconnect with if not reset to that age if only we could retain the wisdom to avoid the coming pitfalls and ageing – beautifully evoked Nancy…

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    1. You are so very kind; thank you!

      I am already a septuagenarian and experience the joys of aging on a daily basis. It’s incredible to me when I think on the many years gone and the ones that lie ahead. The Atlantic beaches of eastern New York have a healing and restorative nature … especially now that the youngsters have returned to school and all is quiet!

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