Sunday, August 11, 2013

Over Cataplana--By Ralph Stott--England

Over Cataplana

With carpenter’s eyes I’d follow,
To the sea and it’s waves below.

And imagine these waves as words,
Glistening amongst the sea birds.

Soon they’d move, as lines to the shore
As written crests above the raw!

A passage from a deep lament?
From distant oceans surely sent.

All written in a foreign tongue;
A poem spoken, now is sung:

“Oh vingress - jah-lub-a-blew-wee!”*
(The waves too, sound phonetically).
                *   *   *
We sit and talk of the future;
Bared with scars and tiny sutures!

A pale past rising through our tans
(Your tiny boatman, oars outspanned).

My hands sliced by chisel and plane,
Forgotten scars that still remain.

Rowing there on a meniscus,
Sea-soaked sand as tiny couscous.

*the sound of a Portuguese doughnut salesman.
Cataplana--(Portuguese fish stew)

Ralph Stott was born in Kent, England in 1957. He is married and has two daughters.  He studied design at the Medway College of Design in the mid-70's. Expressing ideas through the written/visual media, has always interested him. Ralph began to dedicate more time to poetry with The Writers and Poetry Alliance, in particular the 'Stylists' forum, over the last 3 years. He has self published one book called Legends For Lunchtime; a collection of short stories and has a second book pending called Twist and Twist Again, which is a collection of Twister poems, a form he created.

4 comments:

  1. Great visual putting the reader right there in the mist of things. Explaination of 'Cataplana' is appreciated giving a complete understand of your words. Very nice work here...

    Rhoda Galgiani

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  2. thank you Rhoda for your kind words. i was captivated by the idea of stories breaking to a surface. its easy to be obscure in poetry. i like to give a few helpful definitions to carry readers with me! best wishes ralph.

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  3. Dear Ralph,

    Thank you for stopping by and leaving comments of encouragement for other writers today. It is great to have you at Whispers sharing your talent and supporting others. Wishing you the best with all our writing endeavors. Keep up the good writing!!

    Karen

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  4. Thank you, Connie Marcum Wong, for the following comment--

    A mesmerizing piece Ralph. Your generous descriptions drew me into a tangible state of bliss. You are a very talented writer and I truly enjoyed reading your wonderful poem!
    Mahalo, Connie Marcum Wong

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