Sunday, May 6, 2012

Magpie Tales #116, "Fear"

courtesy of Google Images

Fear

With toe tip submerged
I explore
brownish yellow

become mesmerized
with shadow-play
ask, once again,
why there isn't any blue.

Reflected tire
ripples drunkenly,
hypnotically

above her murky surface,
tauntingly daring me
to indulge.  I try.

I inhale deeply,
imagine gathering speed
high, low, up, down,
letting go, soaring
envision the plunge,
ponder dropping beneath,
sinking below, 
hand outstretched...

exhale, withdraw my toe
resigned to sit
another summer
upon the river's
sunny bank.

Some things
one never outgrows.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, May 6, 2012

The Rock River flows behind my childhood home and I was never able to enjoy it.  Many people boat and ski and swim in it.  I just feel that (swimming) water should reflect some blue.  I guess that is why I loved living on Lake Michigan, where I could see my toes upon the sandy bottom at all times!

HERE is a link to an entry to this challenge I found particularly beautiful!

This is for Magpie Tales #116.  Click on over and join the fun.   The Magpie photo prompt is below.
This is also linked with Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Open Link Monday".


image: River Irwell by R.A.D. Stainforth



25 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

aww. too brownish yellow/murky. :)

Brian Miller said...

aww i love a good tire swing...and the brown water i swim it but every once in a while i get a creepshow flashback of the sludge that makes me want to sit on the bank for a while...

Reena said...

I have swung on a similar tire swing out into a river ... so much fun! Very nice words!

Abin Chakraborty said...

the movement of the entire poem is crafted beautifully, matching the vicissitudes of the mind.

21 Wits said...

I just came in from swinging on one very much like that! Not really, but we do have one almost like it...what a beautiful poem!

vivinfrance said...

Interesting poem - and how our views on this change with age. As a child I would swim and play in anything, so long as it was wet. Nowadays, like you, I like water to be clean and clear!

Unknown said...

Enjoyed the read and the story through yr eyes :)

Mimi Foxmorton said...

I remember that tire.....but you couldn't get me to do that today! lol

Lovely vision!
Nicely done!

Scarlet said...

I am scaredy cat so I can't plunge and swim without seeing the blue and depths of the water. Thanks for sharing this ~

Happy day to you ~

Ravenblack said...

I don't much like water. I would have to have the water clear to want to get in it, especially after having a bad experience of having my foot cut by glass, walking in ankle deep tide at the beach.

Love your poem, slowly from contemplating the water, to going for it, plunging in. "Apologise" was unexpected but honest I think. Short lines, read with pause just paints the scene I think. :) Good capture.

Daydreamertoo said...

I used to love swimming until I was in the sea and something very unpleasant floated past my face. Have never swam in any open water since. LOL
I do LOVE being on the water, by the water and watching it, listening to it though.
Great imagery here.

Mark Windham said...

I was listening to my wife the whole time. She loves being ON the water, but not IN the water. Unless it is a pool.

Herotomost said...

Looks like a million people can identify with this..lol. The hallmark of a great poem when people say "yeah...been there , done that". Loved the whole nostalgic feel. Wonderful scene.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Brown water is dangerous - whatever sinks beneath the surface is lost. I swim in it but cannot bear to see my children go under.

Teresa said...

I can understand that hesitancy to get in murky water. You've described that fear/mistrust quite well.

Susan Anderson said...

I like the clear water myself, but have to admit that I was a little less discriminating in my youth.

Love this nostalgic poem.

=)

Tess Kincaid said...

There are some things one should never outgrow...

Unknown said...

pretty neat. I love the rapidity in the central stanza, really great job there. Thanks

Shawna said...

These sections are really good:

"above her murky surface,
tauntingly daring me
to indulge"

"exhale, withdraw my toe
resigned to sit
another summer
upon the river's
sunny bank.

Some things
one never outgrows."

Nice job.

kaykuala said...

A dive into the clear cool water can be so exhilarating. But just memories. Some true episodes Marge!

Hank

Isadora Gruye said...

I too feel there should be some blue instead of brown, despite your reservations, you did a great job of capturing the pause on a summer day. viva la

Semaphore said...

Tire swings, river swims, hazy summer days - some things one never outgrows.

Laurie Kolp said...

i DIDN'T MIND SWIMMING IN WATER LIKE THAT WHEN i WAS GROWING UP, BUT NOW i CAN'T EITHER. (oops... please forgive the caps)

I especially like:

Reflected tire
ripples drunkenly,
hypnotically

above her murky surface,
tauntingly daring me
to indulge

Helen said...

Wish I had the courage .. and the skill .. to swing on that tire, over a river .. and fall right in. I would drown.

Silent Otto said...

I too became hypnotized by this swinging pendulum you have Artfully constructed, AH365, Thanks.