Begin
Is a rare word,
The dictionary tells me.
It means
To be cut open,
To be opened up.
I am thinking of this
As I walk along the beach
And the wind grows strong
And I step into a wave
At the wrong time
And the wave
Hurls me to the ground.
My eyes stay open.
The water is white.
I am powerless
And torn
And empty.
I stand up and fall
Into the next wave.
It carries me out
To a sheltered space
Where I begin again.
Afloat,
I marvel:
The sky is blue
And I am alive
And so is the sea
And the air
And the sun.
It's good.
All so very good.
It is a rare thing,
Beginning.
One Single Impression
30 Comments
I hate to disagree with Mr Webster but it seems like I am beginning every day. No water here but dusting off myself, beginning again.
ReplyDeleteyou have a much more interesting dictionary than I do. I love this poem.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem, I like so much the nice image of the passage through the waves while thinking and reflecting on the beauty of the world.
ReplyDeleteThe line that keeps echoing through me is
ReplyDelete'At the wrong time'
and it calls me to wonder, how inopportune many beginning moments might seem.
gently provocative to me...
thank you:)
You've always had a gift Sandy but lately your writing just keeps getting better and better, you are on a roll my friend. Brilliant! I loved every line.
ReplyDeleteHugs, G
I am powerless but there is ONR who has all power
ReplyDeleteAs I've written before and like Geraldine has written, your writing gets better and better and you are definitely on a roll, Sandy! I love the moving through the waves and the rarity of Beginning. Have a beautiful weekend!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
now I am thinking about Le Mythe de Sysiphe...
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThere is something about the vastness of the sea that invokes a new beginning in our thoughts. Power, vastness, infinity, movement, relentless sounds. How insignificant I feel in the surf by the ocean. Is someone watching, does my insignificance go unnoticed? I cast my soul into the waters to see where it floats, knowing I am at peace. Are you there?
ReplyDeleteVery picturesque!
ReplyDeletealready missing you
ReplyDeleteWarm Aloha from Waikiki :)
Comfort Spiral
Hey Sandy ~~ to open up: like a play or the opening of the curtains. Things can begin
ReplyDeleteto open up: open the book and start reading, at the beginning, naturally.
All of that but I do like your poem and I did enjoy the treck off-track that you made out there in the waters. :)
..
BTW, I didn't read your reference dictionary far enough down to get to the cutting part.
..
What a wonderful post, Sandy!
ReplyDeleteTo begin!! To try!! To dream!! To create!! All encouraging words...words to start each day with.
Washed cleaned by a nights' sleep...we begin!
Hugs
SueAnn
As usual..very beautiful..missed your presence around..
ReplyDeleteRob,
ReplyDeleteI am there. In peace, no longer in pieces!
And barely there. I have crashed since my family went home. The children kept me going. Now some time for quiet and visiting blogs at the end of the day.
Yes, it is very rare. So is ending.
ReplyDeleteBeginning is very rare. Wonderfully crafted poem!
ReplyDelete-Weasel
That wave is a beaut.
ReplyDeleteYou defined it well..
ReplyDeletered sand
Excellent words with great imagery, too.
ReplyDeletelovely imagery here.. but I feel like I'm beginning from the first, all over again..!
ReplyDeletewe both connect our "beginning' with the sea. the bible and mr. darwin agree with is there - the sea is the beginning. great poem
ReplyDeleteIt is a rare thing,
ReplyDeleteBeginning.
such a wonderful poem ... I love that you grounded your thoughts in the sea.
peace,
JP/deb
Beautiful! I've experienced many new beginnings at the shore!
ReplyDeleteHi Sandy;
ReplyDeleteReminds me, been into it! And yes, to get up and begin again but never to forget how beautiful are the things around us!
That will inspire us to begin again!
to begin and to start afresh is a great chance to do everything from scratch again, thank for sharing your words, it been a great time reading :D
ReplyDeleteThat is so true. Very nicely done :)
ReplyDeleteA poem that's so experential and spiritual. Thanks Sandy.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a way with words, I felt I was nearly drowning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here.