An early arriver on the beach, I see
my life’s remnants randomly scattered
I am the collector of this flotsam and jetsam
piecing my final months together
I notice one morning
clouds hang over the near horizon
and a sharp-sailed ship
cutting the swell
rides through the wild white horses
the ship disappears
sweeping the shoreline for wreckage
I am the builder with hammer and nails
joining my final days together
I briefly rest to watch
clouds hang over the near horizon
and a wayfaring yacht
tacking this way and that
crosses the wild white horses
the yacht dissolves
searching for signs of her existence
I am the keeper of time and fate
stitching my final hours together
I glance upwards to view
clouds hang over the near horizon
and a rowing boat
dipping and rising
yields to the wild white horses
the boat descends
praying for her salvation
I am the captain of my fragile craft
sealing our final minutes together
I kiss you hard
and climb into my self-built raft
floating and trembling
on top of the wild white horses
towards clouds that hang over the near horizon
This is my final poem for Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2023. Thank you for reading my poetry. You can still make a donation to the Ellen McArthur Cancer Trust.
This poem is inspired loosely by Robinson Jeffer’s poem, The Stars Go Over the Lonely Ocean. I feel that with only a short time left, my life is akin to being on a beach and knowing that at some point in the near future my time is up and my death is inevitable. The poem is also inspired by my sister Polly who wrote a poem many years ago called The Boat Builders.
September 2023 is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. It is also Child Cancer Awareness Month. Every day 10 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer. Of those lucky enough to survive, many will have long-term side-effects that may significantly impact their lives forever.
I am posting one poem per day to recognise this and raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. This charity provides sailing and other outdoor adventures for children and young people aged 8-24 who have been treated for cancer. But it’s more than that. There’s a package of support around this including siblings, return trips, volunteering opportunities and so on. The Trust also works hard to ensure their work is environmentally sustainable. You can make a donation HERE!
Thank you for your beautiful share dear Juliet 💚 I too do not wish for it to be the last of the month so will let your magic unfolk for the month of October too by going back to read them all again - as a wise man once told me (dear Jon Cree ;-)) that poems should definitly be read multiple times :-) Sending buckets full of gratitude, appreciation and love now and always, MX🌿
This is so viscerally bound...thanks Juliet, I am feeling something so deeply held and helping us feel into where you've come and where you're going.
Just read this while witnessing a Spring tide rolling into the Cornish coast running down the stormy waves and rolling with the thunder, staying afloat trying not to be driven under.
Thankyou to your dear heart and ever generous open words 🙏💚