NaPoWriMo #21~The Marginal Sea

Fresh Finds, Poetry

NaPoWriMo #21~The Marginal Sea

Katie Frances Hartless

ekphrasis, memory

The Marginal Sea

A girl with a dragon tattoo,
petite dark chocolate frame,
spikes of neon blue.

We wipe away crumbs in unison
and laugh with the sidewalk bums.
Use our winks to score after-hour drinks.

The ocean ink of catharsis,
diary pages folded into paper boats,
a friendship fleet; I set sail in the sea of her hair…

do memories sink or float?

NaPoWriMo#21~This prompt asks you to write a poem in which you first recall someone you used to know closely but are no longer in touch with, then a job you used to have but no longer do, and then a piece of art that you saw once and that has stuck with you over time. Finally, close the poem with an unanswerable question.

Side note: The artwork by Cyril Rolando has been my screensaver for over a decade.

24 responses to “NaPoWriMo #21~The Marginal Sea”

John

Wonderful! ❤️

Memories always float, perhaps even fly. I remember a family trip in 1968 to Disneyland in Anaheim. So good, but can’t remember why I walked into the kitchen today?

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Ha! So floating memories, but ones that may have lost their clarity. I don’t know. Feels like ther might be years that have fallen off like icebergs, sinking. Hmm, Family trip to Disneyland sounds fun. I would like to forget mine. 😂
  
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  1. John
    
    Oh man, I’m sorry about your Disney experience. I don’t believe that my old memories have lost clarity, they are far too sharp for that. And, time flies way too fast! An old saying says the Time is the fire in which we burn…
    
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  2. K.Hartless
    
    That’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing that. Smoldering memories sounds just right. I was not much into heights as a child or crowds. Disney was a bit of a horror show.
    
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Jeff Flesch

“diary pages folded into paper boats,
a friendship fleet” Wonderful line, awesome poem. Memories? Hmmm. I find that some sink and some float, though, it’s always interesting to have a memory arise that I didn’t see coming. I find it helpful, and sometimes disorienting. 😅

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Jeff. I’m in agreement about the fickle buoyancy of our memories. Some of mine have certainly been excavated like sunken ships. Definitely distorted and disorienting. I appreciate you connecting with my poem. Have a lovely weekend. 🦋
  
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johnlmalone

stunning ! I’ve read the prompt: you’ve done well with the requirements: a colorful, spiky piece 🙂

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you kindly, John. Didn’t think I’d pull this one off with the busy day, but my screensaver came to the rescue. 💜
  
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Unwrithings

I love everything about this poem. Read it a few times!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. I love this surreal artwork. You know how a screensaver becomes sort of like a friend. Well, this piece definitely is. I see it and think, wow, you are in your writing home.
  
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Jim W.

memories float like ‘you know what’ until flushed

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1. K.Hartless
  
  😂😂 Let’s hope I don’t need the plunger then, Jim.
  
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  1. Jim W.
    
    👻👻👻
    
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Mister Bump UK

Enjoyed that

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. 💜
  
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Tom

This was a beautiful trio of images for each stanza ❤ Loved your vivid descriptions here!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. Threes are magical, and I don’t know why, but I find myself creating triplets frequently in my poetry. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Do you happen to know if NaPoWriMo is over yet? 😂😂
  
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  1. Tom
    
    As far as I know, it carries on right up until Saturday 30th this month 🙂 Looking forward to your next marvel!
    
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  2. K.Hartless
    
    Right. Well, I always skipped a few days of every class…wonder if I can get away with it for Poetry Month. 😂 builds the suspense.
    
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writingwhatnots

What a lovely combination of memories – they work so well together. Lovely.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. Could be my peripheral vision is expanding with age. 😂Happy Friday!
  
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Sunra Rainz

Mmmmm, very thought-provoking. There is nostalgia with the imagery here but it feels very positive. Makes me think of that happy-go-lucky character in a film who gets on with everyone and does the right thing and flashes the right smile but underneath it all there’s these stirring thoughts and emotions and depth and no one to share it with so she just writes in secret.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Yes, these memories may be a bit like that. A bit rose colored and lacking the gritty parts. Well-surmised and thank you kindly for reading and connecting to my piece, Sunra.
  
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  1. Sunra Rainz
    
    You’re most welcome!
    
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