This is the second time I go through the 28 Days of Unreason, where I have pulled 28 lines from Jim Harrison’s collection of poetry called Songs of Unreason. The practice stretches me as a writer, some days more than others. This one was especially tough for me. Thank you to those who have joined me during this month of writing. If you find inspiration in this or any other line during this challenge, please drop me a comment; I would love to read what you write, my friends! Here is the Harrison line for today and my poetic response entitled Shores:
“Only the water is safe” ~ Jim Harrison
Shores
Floundering on the land
without boundaries
without edges
is living
without comfort
Only the water is safe
Three directions of land
one of limitless lake
Fishing from the pier, we
fourteen years old
a swell unexpected
sweeps the tackle
into the cold water,
he jumps in, a stupid thing
to do, nearly drowns
the tackle lost;
how different would my life
be if he
had gone the way of the bobbers
and lures?
Only the water is safe
We fell asleep last night
with your hand cupping
the side of my face.
© Poetry by Jilly
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