Halloween by the sea–
foam decomposing,
fingernail seashells,
a spiderweb of waves,
monster horseshoe crabs;
the beach is a science lab.

Halloween by the sea–
specter seagulls squawk
their shadows haunt the shoreline
as vampiric flies descend
in search of carrion
or sunburned, salty friends.

Halloween by the sea–
flatline fish on lines,
a tombstone tide,
hearse when high,
carries skeleton shells
for their final, clattering ride.

Halloween by the sea–
jack-o’lantern dunes,
apricot beer in hand.
What trick-or-treats,
each shovelful
of mystery sand.


My photograph from Halloween at Cape Henlopen Park.

Ingrid’s challenged us this evening to write a poem using only concrete nouns, subject matter and imagery. So, I fashioned this verse about my Halloween weekend by the sea. It’s difficult to be concrete all the time, but I think even my haunted imagery counts. Join us for tonight’s Poetics: Concrete or Abstract?

51 responses to “Halloween by the Sea”

  1. Great photo and poem! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, John. The fall beach was so photogenic, especially with all the sunbathers out of the way. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. sanaarizvi Avatar
    sanaarizvi

    This is absolutely exquisite! I especially admire; “Halloween at the sea–
    flatline fish on lines, a tombstone tide, hearse when high.”💝💝

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you kindly, Sanaa. The Halloween Sea had much to offer, and I was enjoying each surprise.

      Like

  3. Gillena Cox Avatar
    Gillena Cox

    Nice one your images prop the concrete scene in an absolutely real way.

    Happy Tuesday

    Much💛love

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you kindly, Gillena. 💜

      Like

  4. How original! Loved all the spooky imagery, from “spiderweb of waves” to “tombstone tide” I could feel “each shovelful of mystery sand,” great write! 🌊🕸🌊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you kindly, Tricia. It was great to get away and feed my hungry muse some new ideas and scenery.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I bet! That photo is gorgeous 😍

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you. It was gorgeous as the fall has been most gracious this year.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Looks like a fun halloween weekend with a twist!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Grace. It was easy to fall in love with the beach this fall. There was less laughter than our summer excursion but much more serenity.

      Like

  6. This is wonderful! I love all the sea images and their relation to Halloween

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Dwight. It was an in-the-moment write and exciting to experience Halloween in a new location.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Very creative!

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Wonderful poem, K. Yearning for my coat trip coming up. My fav place.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Jeff. Ah, yes the good-old coat trip. Will you Parka somewhere near the sea? Be sure to take your Duffel. 😊 No,seriously, the seaside is heavenly all seasons.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re most welcome, K. Indeed, I will. Just a couple of blocks away. Haha. Will do. The seaside is heavenly year around. I agree. ☺️

        Liked by 1 person

  8. excellent and very clever; loved the macabre humor: Maurice Sendak would have had a ball illustrating this 🙂

    Like

  9. I love the idea of Halloween by the Sea, I did experience this once (in Costa del Sol) but I was too tired to go out! My favourite stanza is this:

    Halloween by the sea–
    flatline fish on lines,
    a tombstone tide,
    hearse when high,
    carries skeleton shells
    for their final, clattering ride.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Ingrid. It was our first Halloween seaside, and I must say, I don’t think it will be our last. Unpredictable weather, yes. Deserted sand and sky, priceless.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. These are my favorite lines too! Brilliant imagery here.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you, Sam.

        Like

  10. i to love the serenity of a halloween beach your imagery brings it all back. loved yourr poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. We enjoyed all that the off-season beach had to offer.

      Like

      1. 👍👍

        Liked by 1 person

  11. delightful vivid images! love it all but really had a giggle about those vampiric flies … I’ve met a few 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Kate. Yes, the waters being warmer than expected we waded in, then it was attack of the flies. I learned they love the salty skin.

      Like

      1. yes salty skin wards off the mossies but the flies love it!

        Like

  12. Sometimes an image is so spot on, so stunningly accurate, it makes you stop, take a breath and wonder why you didn’t think of it first. Fingernail seashells is a perfect example. 👏👏

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Hobbo. 😊There was lots of scratching with the rising tide that day.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 😂 And nail biting!

        Liked by 1 person

  13. We shared the same way into this, starting each stanza with the same words, then opening it out. Lovely visuals!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Jane.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. The photo is breathtaking, I want to be there! Enjoyed how you characterized Halloween … nice writing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Helen. Would be a great place for a writer’s retreat. It was our first Halloween by the sea, and I will say, we fell in love with the breezy fall shoreline.

      Like

  15. Wonderful juxtaposition, the holiday and the everchanging sea. Concreterrific!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you kindly, Ron. It was fun to play with the imagery of the seaside and the holiday.

      Like

  16. I know I am reading a solid poem(if you’ll excuse the pun)when after the first few lines I am smiling out of pure pleasure to have found it. I love the way you have built not just images, but a world here, one that has its own peculiar/familiar denizens, its own secrets, and its own rules. I could quote it all back to you, but I especially loved the lines that end each stanza–short, biting and expressive. What a pleasure this morning to read.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you kindly, hedgewitch. This comment brightened my day.

      Like

  17. fireblossom32 Avatar
    fireblossom32

    Very clever!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you.

      Like

  18. apricot beer in hand.

    that’s a thing? sounds delicious!!!


    David

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Appararently, yes, David. And I can attest that it’s delicious. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. I love the way you describe the concrete image of the sea in those equally concrete pictures of horror… and the emotion enders in that contrast, I can feel how cold it must be by the sea.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you kindly, Björn . It was very windy, but remarkably warm for late October. Book, blanket, and journal. Perfect day seaside.

      Like

  20. Great photo and text.
    It looks like here at the beach behind our house. Where is Cape Henlopen – it reminds us of Hinlopen at Svalbard but looks totally different.
    Thanks for sharing
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Many thanks. Yes, I could have practically been in your backyard, then. We have family in Lewes, and visit Cape Henlopen frequently. A mild fall on the Delaware coast found us easily spending all day at the beach all day. Warm regards to the Fab Four of Cley. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Fun Halloween by the seashore. 🎃🌊 🐚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. I wish I was there this year. 🌊

      Like

  22. I’ll add my comment, K to your monster haul of 50! this is terrific, monstrous 🙂

    Like

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