On Pebble Beach - Tuesday Poem

On Pebble Beach

Every few waves and the undertow rumbles

the boulders over each other and then the next

bowls them back to the beach –

percussive, rounded shoulders

some head-sized, some heart

tumbled over

wearing each other down.

The undertow of our words

rolling so easily

shushing and plosive.

Listen, you said,

(and I listened to the brief beach music)

after an hour of that

a body would be bruised beyond

identification.

(Sometimes I hear my voice and wonder

if it is really me speaking.)

Catherine Bateson, 2013

Oh dear, not the best photo, I'm afraid. You get to this beach via the longest boardwalk I have ever been on. On the other side of the ridge, four surfers caught waves, neatly avoiding the rocks, even when they came back into shore. They must surf there often to know the safe ways in. 

Now that you've caught the sun and salt, take a mosey on over to the Tuesday Poetry Blog by clicking here to read a classic New Zealand rugby poem, 'The All Blacks' - check out the photos, too. From the hub, visit other Tuesday poems and have a lyrical week.

If you want a poetry writing exercise, think about a place you've visited and - working from something about that place - use it to explore some element of a relationship. 

Can you see the top of it? And there's the Cape Shank lighthouse just to the left.